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Buddhists protest religious discrimination in South Korea

Turkmenistan News.Net
Wednesday 27th August, 2008 (IANS)

Tens of thousands of South Korean Buddhists protested Wednesday against what they said was discrimination from the government of conservative Christian President Lee Myung Bak.

About 60,000 people, including thousands of monks, took part in the rally and marched through central Seoul, television reports said.

'This gathering is not to declare a state of confrontation but to end social conflict and division,' said Wonhak, a monk from the Jogye Order, the country's largest Buddhist sect, which organised the demonstration.

He also called for more tolerance.

Buddhist groups have accused Lee's government, which has been in office since February, of favouring Christians. Lee, a Protestant, filled many of his cabinet posts with Christians in an effort to give more influence to South Korea's Christian community, they charged.

They were also angered when the car of Jigwan, the leader of the Jogye Order, was searched by the police in June, as he was entering the main Jogye temple in Seoul. Earlier, anti-government protesters had taken refuge at the temple from police.

Since the search, Buddhists have demanded a personal apology from Lee and the dismissal of the National Police Agency chief.

The government offered an olive branch Tuesday when Culture Minister Yu In Chon promised punishment for religious discrimination by government officials, but protest organisers refused to call of Wednesday's rally.

According to government figures, a little more than half of South Koreans claim a religious affiliation. Of those, 43 percent, or more than 10.7 million, said they are Buddhist, and 55.1 percent, or 13.8 million, said they are Christian.

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Comments on this story

Anonymous
08-27-08, 08:04 PM

Buddhists protest religious discrimination in South Korea

Now we see again the wedge that western hegemony planted in asia, africa and south america tearing apart the unity of the original people. Christianity is an imperfect foot soldiers of the west in serving the interest of their own society. We should get rid of these foreign influence in this century of promoting indigeneous culture and right.

I love Korea, but not Korean Christianity
08-28-08, 08:54 AM

Christianity belittles the Korean nation and people

I read with horrors the discrimination practiced by Korean Christians against their traditional religions esp Buddhism.Tangun statues,korea mythical founder is beheaded.Temples desecrated. Christian prayers ask for “buddhist temples to fall'..Fanatic Korean Christians similar to the fanatic Talibans in Afghanistan has been waging a secret campaign against Buddhism ,maybe to turn S.Korea in to a Christian State, which is impossible.It is a regret some Korean Christians wants to destroy their own race,identity and culture.They unshamefully thought they are great to look down on their own culture but the reverse is true. The world is impressed with Korean culture n Buddhism not Korean Christianity which is frankly is an eyesore,esp the crazy behavior such as mad evangelising in public areas and the ugly churches whcih dotted the country. Ard 70% of Koreans are non-Christians,so the Christians try to show that they are alot. The President is desperate to show his fanatism by his actions.How can one be respected in the world when one has no culture of his own,but fanatically clinging on a belief that orginates in the Middle East and which is steadily losing its followers.
Christianity likes to show that she is being discriminated elsewhere.But thanks to the media, the world is learning abt the dirty tactics of some korean christians. christianity has brought Korea only shame, belittles her people and degrade the pride of Korea culture and religion.Korea’s economic sucess lies in the hardworking,determined,educated people, instilled by confucianism.Korea’s great cultural traditions lies in Buddhism and Taoism(see the korean flag). Korean Buddhists spread true compassion in its charity work overseas,never ever mentioning religion but Korean churches send “charity workers' to spread the faith only to be meet with hatred(many Afghans and Arabs hated us,luckily i told them many Koreans are non-Christians) But frankly,why has the great Korean people subjected themselves to such humiliation from a belief that want them to erase their own identity?

I love Korea very much but not Korean Christianity and the world shares this opinion too.
just me
08-28-08, 10:42 AM

I disagree!

I just wanna share my thought on this issue. From what I read, I disagree that President Lee favoured Christians because most of his cabinet members are Christians. I think being a Christian most of his political allies unavoidably are also Christians. It’s the same as in Indonesia (I’m an Indonesian). As the current Indonesian President is a Muslim, most of the cabinet members are also Muslims. I think it’s almost the same everywhere in the world. I think religion should not matter when choosing a cabinet member. Ability should come first, as long as the chosen person is able to do the job well, it shouldn’t matter what his/her religion is.
Secondly, from what I read, the reason Jigwan of Jogye Order was searched by the police in June was solely because “earlier, anti-government protesters had taken refuge at the temple from police”. Off course the police had to question him? If those protesters hide in a church, the police would question the pastor of that church too. And I’m sure if the situation is reversed the same thing would’ve happened. Eg. if the President is a Buddhist, and some anti-government protesters hide in a church, the police would question the pastor of that church. The issue here is not religion, but a person who gives refuge to anti-government protest should be questioned regardless of his/her religion. In my opinion President Lee is a very competent President who will bring this country out of economic problems. Who care what his religion is? If he were a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, etc.. I would still support him.
As for the above comment... I have been living for 4 years in Korea. I never heard that Christians here “wants destroy their own race,identity and culture. They unshamefully thought they are great to look down on their own culture ". First of all, regardless of their religions, most Koreans are very proud of their culture and fiercely defend it whenever necessary. All Koreans regardless of their religions still practise their culture which is based on confucianism, such as respecting the elders. And all of Koreans I know, regardless of their culture are aware of their history and the root of their culture, with no intention of changing based on other religions. If anybody tried to destroy any cultural treasures, they would surely be punished, regardless of their religions. As a Christian myself I never heard my Korean pastor ask us to make “prayers ask for “buddhist temples to fall'". I think what you were talking about is a cult, not true Christians. You are making a generalization on Christians. It’s as if you are saying all Muslims are trying to destroy western culture and kill everyone who are in their way, based on what the Talibans are doing. Yes, there are hard core Christians who tried to “Christianized” the world, but there are also hard cores in other religions who are doing the same thing. So please do not make such a narrow minded generalization upon all Christians in Korea.
And as for your comment that “christianity has brought Korea only shame, belittles her people and degrade the pride of Korea culture and religion”, I strongly disagree. There are many Koreans who happen to be Christians, who promote the national pride, such as athletes who won gold medals in the Olympics, actors, actresses, singers who introduce the world to “Korean wave”. These people put Korea on the map. Why does it matter what their religions are? All Koreans introduce themselves first of all as “Koreans”, not “Christian Koreans” or “Buddhist Koreans”. These people are all united by their basic identity as Koreans, not by religions. Just look how they banded together as one nation during the 1998 economic crisis or the 2002 World Cup.
And your other comment “Korea’s economic sucess lies in the hardworking,determined,educated people, instilled by confucianism." Do you mean all Koreans of other religions are lazy, undetermined, uneducated people? That Korea’s economic success can only be achieved if all Koreans are Buddhist? I think generally all Koreans are hardworking,determined,educated people, regardless of their religions. Why do you focus only on religion? The key to any country’s economic success is to work together as a nation, regardless of races and religions!
That’s all I’ve got to say :)


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