Korean Party: "Buddhist Community Gift Originally Hanji... Misdelivered During Shipping" (Summary)

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] The Liberty Korea Party apologized for sending beef jerky as a Lunar New Year gift to the Jogye Order, stating that there was a mistake during the delivery process.

On the 20th, the party stated in a press release, "There was a problem in communication between the chief secretary's office and the gift delivery company, resulting in a gift that should have been delivered elsewhere being mistakenly sent to the Jogye Order."

The Liberty Korea Party decided to give beef jerky as the party leader's gift for the Lunar New Year. However, gifts for Buddhist leaders were separately decided as Hangwa (traditional Korean sweets) and reported to the party leader. Nevertheless, on the day of delivery, a mistake occurred during the gift delivery process, and beef jerky was delivered instead.

The party said, "On the day of delivery, the secretary's office immediately identified the situation and took prompt retrieval measures," adding, "Although we apologized on the same day, it was far from enough considering the shock the Buddhist community might have felt. Since this was a gift for the religious community, we should have been more careful even during the delivery process, but a major mistake occurred," and apologized.

Earlier, Liberty Korea Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn also apologized regarding this issue, saying, "I deeply regret causing concern to the Jogye Order." After the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, he told reporters, "There was a problem during the delivery process, and we will thoroughly investigate the circumstances."

Previously, the Liberty Korea Party caused controversy by sending beef jerky as a holiday gift to the Jogye Order under Hwang’s name. The Jogye Order is a sect influenced by Mahayana Buddhism, which prohibits monks from eating meat. Upon learning of the situation, the party claimed it was a delivery mistake and hurriedly sent staff to retrieve the gift, but criticism over the lack of consideration continued.