On August 14, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism held a Dharma assembly at the Beopwangnu Hall of Bongeunsa Temple in Seoul to pray for peace and harmony between North and South Korea, and to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule on August 15, 1945. The Buddhist order urged the South Korean government to resume dialogue with North Korea and promote peace policies.

Most Ven. Jinwoo, the president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, pledged that the order and the Buddhist community would facilitate civilian exchanges and maintain the spirit of inter-Korean reconciliation alive, vowing to spearhead efforts to establish peace as a practitioner committed to compassion and wisdom. Ven. Jinwoo particularly welcomed the new government's tension-reducing measures, such as suspending loudspeaker broadcasts to the North. “I hope that these small but meaningful first steps will lead to the restoration of trust between North and South Korea,” said the president, vowing that “the order will also do its best.”

 

About 250 key figures from the Buddhist community, as well as politicians and government officials, attended the ceremony. A statement was also released urging the resumption of peace dialogue between North and South Korea. Participants read out a statement written by Ven. Wonmyung, abbot of Bongeunsa Temple, who urged the North and South Korean governments to resume dialogue and pursue peace policies to improve inter-Korean relations. The statement calls for the resumption of high-level talks, including the exchange of special envoys, to create an opportunity for improving inter-Korean relations; the cessation of all political and military aggressions against each other; and the active promotion of civilian exchanges and cooperation.