Let us build a noble community of people who dream of a better future anchored in great compassion and unity. 

A new year’s sun has risen on the first day of B.E. 2569. May the Year of the Blue Snake be a new beginning of wisdom and light that will eliminate all the suffering and ignorance of the world in one fell swoop. The Blue Snake symbolizes growth and change, metamorphosis. It will push through the pain and disruption of shedding the old and move into the new. 

As we enter the New Year, South Korea is facing economic hardship and a crisis of democracy, while the global community is experiencing the pain of war, climate crisis, and environmental degradation that threaten the very survival of future generations. This is precisely the situation described in the adage of samgye hwataek (三界火宅, “the whole world is like a burning house.”). For the sake of future generations, we must overcome the difficulties. 

Everything is constantly changing. Nature dictates that the warmth of spring comes after the cold of winter. Through pain comes accomplishment, and through chaos comes peace. The wise man says, “Those who have fallen from the ground shall get up therefrom." We need to see the reality of the situation and get back on our feet with the right wisdom and intention to become the master of our own destiny. In 2025, Korean Buddhism will strive to help all those who were hurt last winter find peace of mind and prepare for a warm spring. 

First, Korean Buddhism will be at the forefront of social conflict and suffering. 

Korean society is experiencing increasing conflict, confrontation, division, discrimination, and polarization. It is plagued with hatred among classes, generations, regions, and religions. However, we also have a traditional wisdom of reconciliation and harmony. Let us together reconcile conflicts and open the path to unity. 

Today marks the 24th anniversary of the Jeju Air crash. We fervently pray that the victims be reborn in the Western Pure Land. For 49 days, until the Buddhist funeral rites are properly completed, the venerables of the Social and Labor Committee under the Jogye Order will hold daily prayers at the site of the accident. Korean Buddhism will always be there wherever there are suffering neighbors and the oppressed. In addition, the tragedy has made us realize the urgent need to train volunteers to practice social compassion. The Welfare Foundation of the Jogye Order has shown extraordinary dedication at Muan Airport, but there is still an urgent call for more volunteers. We will cultivate a community of volunteers and activists who are ready to rush to the scene at any time and support them by creating an annual fund of over KRW 1 billion. 

Traditional temples and the lush forests surrounding them are a unique heritage that combines religious faith, tradition, history, and ecology. Since I took office, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism has made the decision to open these world-renowned cultural spaces to the public by no longer charging admission, which has resulted in more than doubling the number of visitors. All members of the Buddhist community, including the ordained sangha, temple staff, and lay Buddhists, will continue to do their best to ensure that everyone who needs a break from their hectic daily lives can visit the traditional temple and rejuvenate their minds through meditation, templestays, tea ceremonies, and prayers. We look forward to active policy support from relevant government agencies in resolving environmental issues and expanding facilities so that people can more comfortably access the temple’s resources. 

Furthermore, the public value and role of temple forests are becoming increasingly important due to climate change. We will continue to preserve and utilize temple forests as a significant carbon sink for Korea and at the same time provide rest for people's minds and bodies. To this end, the Temple Forest Research Institute will be recognized as an official organization of the Jogye Order and will continue to conduct research and public service projects. 

The Jogye Order will create a dynamic Buddhist community through reorganization.

Last year, the Jogye Order decided to reorganize its structure for the first time in 30 years, and from April this year, the Sangha Education Bureau and the Dharma Propagation Bureau will be merged to form a centralized administrative body. The current organizational structure, which divides the Order into three sectors - education, propagation, and general administration - has become somewhat stagnant. The streamlined structure will allow for a more organic and rapid planning and execution so that we can help lay Buddhists deepen their faith and modernize the Sangha education system to realize a dynamic Buddhism. 

We will continue the trend of "young Buddhism" and "hip Buddhism" that resonates with the new generation, while further strengthening our outreach through new media that are popular among the modern people. Through the newly established Media Relations Office, we will promote the inclusiveness of Korean Buddhism and continue to communicate directly with the younger generation through various channels. 

With the reorganization, the Dharm propagation will now be one of the priorities of the President of the Jogye Order. We will empower the various grassroots Buddhist missionary organizations by increasing the Order’s support. By making it easier for them to access the resources of the Jogye Order and its affiliated temples, anyone interested in learning more about Buddhism will be able to join one of these organizations near their workplaces and neighborhoods. We will also provide clear direction for each organization so that they can work with precise goals. 

Through the conduit of the "Buddhist Culture Festival," the young and hip Buddhist culture will materialize and develop. The "Buddhist Culture Festival," to be held during the October Cultural Month, will invite the citizens to a variety of local cultural festivals including the mountain temple concerts hosted by temples across the country, including Jogye-sa, the headquarters temple of the Jogye Order. Through the medium of Buddhist art, the Order will create a space where people can enjoy our traditional culture in harmony and unity. 

The Order is committed to revitalizing Korean Buddhism and restoring the dignity of the noble sangha.

The problem of declining initiation into the ordained sangha, coupled with the secularization of society, is critical in that it undermines the very foundations of Korean Buddhism. The solution lies in educating as many people as possible about the value of dedicating one’s life to spiritual practice following the Buddha's path. We will actively promote how renouncing the world and being ordained is a way not only for one’s own deliverance but also for the salvation of the world. The dignity of the ordained sangha reflects the perfection of the spiritual practice. This spring, the Jogye Order will host the Great Seon Dharma Assembly with the leading Seon masters of Korean Buddhism to give the people the opportunity to experience the bliss of Ganhwa Seon, the traditional practice of Korean Buddhism. 

In addition, there is a growing demand for the wisdom of the Buddha to play an important role in the social environment. The Jogye Order will innovate our basic sangha education programs, starting from the novice training system. We want to inherit the spirit of Sangha education and transform it into a modern education system so that we can produce visionaries who will lead Korean Buddhism into the future. The Order will also introduce an online education platform so that new initiates can earn a bachelor's degree while receiving quality theological education even in the mountains. In line with social changes, we will also expand the scope of sangha training so that temples can use the latest technology in their propagation efforts. 

The Jogy Order will make a qualitative leap in the welfare of ordained monastics through a systematic approach. The Order will ensure the dignity of the monastic sangha throughout their ordained lives, from initiation to pari-nirvana and funeral cremation so that they can solely focus on spiritual endeavors. Since the monastic sangha is the most important engine for the operation of the Jogye Order, we will secure the necessary funds to move toward a ‘total welfare’ or ‘perfect welfare’ system. 

The Order will usher in the spring full of hope. 

The world desperately needs the sunshine of spring to thaw our frozen hearts. The Buddha came to earth to comfort the hearts of all who suffer and teach us to be the masters of our own lives. On May 5, the Buddha’s Birthday, the warm spring will reach its peak. The Jogye Order will unite our efforts to make peace and wisdom prevail in April and May. The Buddhist Fair, organized to appeal to the hip and young crowd, will be followed by the International Seon Meditation Summit to teach the world how to find peace of mind, and Yeondeunghoi (the Lantern Lighting Festival), the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, to promote Korea's traditional culture. Through these events, we will create a space of harmony and unity where everyone, regardless of generation and gender, can come together to bring peace and comfort to people’s hearts. 

Through various events, the Jogye Order will present the future of Korean Buddhism, where traditional wisdom and cutting-edge technology will come together. We will introduce to the world the essence of Korean Buddhism, such as the belief in the interconnectedness of all things and the law of causality and karma, as well as the ecological spirit of harmony with nature that underlies K-culture. In addition, we will prepare for a friendlier and warmer Buddha’s Birthday by incorporating modern cultural and technological elements, to help people become more familiar with Korean Buddhism and bring greater joy to the hearts of all Buddhists.

Held as a part of the Buddha’s Birthday celebration, Yeondeunghoi is a proud example of showcasing Korea’s traditional culture to the world. This year’s Yeondeunghoi is especially significant because it marks the fifth anniversary of its inscription on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List. Every year, many foreigners book travel packages to visit Korea in time for the festival. Anyone can join the festival as an equal participant to have fun and mingle with each other in a relaxed, peaceful atmosphere. 

The Jogye Order plans to make it as easy as possible for the general public to participate in the festival. They will be able to make their own lotus lanterns at the festival booths by registering in advance. Children will receive souvenirs to commemorate Children's Day. The young people will be invited to join the lotus lantern parade as long as they affix lotus stickers to their favorite items, such as cheering sticks. With the support and promotion of related government agencies such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, we are confident that Yeondeunghoi will grow to be a world-class event. The Jogye Order will do its best to make sure that the Lantern Lighting Festival, which attracts more than 300,000 people, will become a safe and exciting global cultural festival. 

The Seoul International Buddhist Expo creates a venue where people can enjoy hip Buddhism by combining the creativity of the younger generation with the traditional Buddhist culture. Having widely welcomed by the public, the Expo will be moved to COEX this year as the Order plans to expand the event to provide visitors with a variety of experiences ranging from traditional to modern Buddhist culture based on cutting-edge technologies. In this way, we hope to bring young people and older generations together and expand the Expo into an event that can promote Korean Buddhism to the world. The International Buddhist Expos have also been held in Daegu and Busan, and have been well received by local people. The Jogye Order will continue to promote intergenerational integration and regional exchanges through Buddhist culture. 

The wisdom of Korean Buddhism encapsulated in Seon meditation will lead you to peace of mind. 

The Jogye Order has presented Seon meditation as a way to achieve peace of mind and happiness for the people, and we will develop it as a national movement and spread it to a wider public this year. Meditation is also attracting worldwide interest as a practice to promote mental health. In recognition of this, the United Nations established World Meditation Day in December last year, and more and more people around the world are practicing meditation to cultivate a healthy mind and body. 

Based on the 1,700-year-old Korean Buddhist tradition of Ganhwa Seon, which wholly contains the wisdom of Korean Buddhism, Seon meditation modifies and popularizes this profound practice for modern people. For example, the "Just pause meditation” and "5-second meditation," which were introduced last year, are being developed into programs that can be easily applied in people’s daily lives. Seon meditation will become one of the main pillars of K-culture, representing Korea’s spirituality to the world. The doors to Seon meditation will be wide open, from downtown meditation centers in the city to traditional temples in remote mountains, so that anyone who wants to take a break from their busy lives and find a moment of peace can participate. 

The Jogye Order will host the International Seon Meditation Summit in April to invite world-class meditation teachers and introduce meditation methods, and offer opportunities to learn more about Seon meditation through experiential programs and templestays at urban meditation centers and major temples across the country. 

Last year, over 35,000 people participated in Seon meditation programs through templestays at 57 pilot temples. This year, the Jogye Order will designate the pilot temples as full-fledged Seon meditation centers, and develop detailed programs for different age and gender groups to provide a more systematic approach to meditation. We will place special emphasis on scientifically proving the effect of meditation, and expanding discussion with the academia and educational communities so that future generations can grow up with Seon meditation as an integral part of their lives, relying on it to take care of their minds and emotions and achieve happiness.

We will also make various efforts to introduce Seon meditation to a global audience. In the second half of this year, the Jogye Order will hold an international conference by inviting meditation experts from home and abroad to inform the world about Korea’s Seon meditation and find ways to globalize it. 

The Jogye Order plans to build the Central Seon Meditation Center in the heart of Seoul. The center, to be located in Anam-dong, will be a place where people can focus on meditation by providing a stable practice environment in the middle of the city. It will also play an important role in developing and disseminating meditation programs and training professional leaders who will be the backbone of the spread of meditation. This year, as a first step, we are designing the structure of the building that will help people meditate comfortably. 

The Jogye Order will foster a young and vibrant culture within Korean Buddhism.

When I took office, I committed myself to bringing back and making the fallen rock-face Buddha in Yeolam Valley stand up again. Despite some delay, Gyeongju City and the Korea Heritage Service will complete the simulation of lifting the Buddha in the first half of this year. Once the simulation result is finalized, the Jogye Order will be able to announce at long last a concrete plan for how to bring the Buddha back to life and honor it, reflecting the hope of many Buddhists and citizens. Properly enshrining the rock-face Buddha signifies the Order’s vow to continue the history of Korean Buddhism for another millennium.  

The Buddhist Cultural Heritage Preservation Center will open its doors in March this year. It will play a central role in the preservation of Buddhist cultural heritage, as the center will focus on conserving and restoring Buddhist artifacts in private collections that cannot be handled by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage.

As the legitimate heir of Korea’s traditional culture, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism will play a multi-faceted future role in realizing traditional cultural values and socially utilizing the tangible and intangible cultural assets that Korean Buddhism has inherited by developing cultural content. We will transform the old structure to streamline the operation of the Jogye Order and improve areas such as Dharma propagation and sangha education. In addition, the Jogye Order Research Institute, which will be newly established through the reorganization, will spearhead the Order's research efforts, providing Buddhist solutions to various social issues and setting long-term policy directions for sangha education and Dharma propagation. 

Various other projects will be undertaken by the Jogye Order this year. Korean Buddhism will stand firmly by the side of the suffering and marginalized people to bring peace and comfort to their hearts. In the Year of the Blue Snake, we look forward to your guidance and interest as we take steps to spread our practice and teachings amidst the fragrance of plum blossoms. Thank you. 

January 21, B.E 2569 

Most Ven. Jinwoo

President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism