Why Did President-Elect Yoon Meet Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers at Bongeunsa Temple on Buddha's Birthday?

Lunch with former General Secretary Ja Seung and 14 members including Kwon Seong-dong, Joo Ho-young, Lee Won-wook, and Kwon In-sook
Former Representative Song Young-gil, Dongguk University President Yoon Sung-i, and Buddhist Music Institute Director Park Beom-hoon also participated

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol visited Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 8th and had lunch with Abbot Jaseung, Head Monk Wonmyeong, and lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties. Photo by Reader

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] It has been confirmed that President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol had lunch with 14 lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties at Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 8th, which was Buddha's Birthday. Around 12:30 PM that day, Yoon visited Bongeunsa Temple and met with former Jogye Order Chief Executive Monk Jaseung, Bongeunsa Temple Chief Monk Wonmyeong, and lawmakers from both parties, having a meal together for about an hour.

Those who attended the meal included People Power Party floor leader Kwon Seong-dong, former floor leader Joo Ho-young, Tae Young-ho, Yoo Kyung-jun, Park Jin, Heo Eun-ah, Park Hyung-soo, Bae Hyun-jin, and Lee Yong. On the Democratic Party side, former leader Song Young-gil, Lee Won-wook, Kwon In-sook, Yoo Jeong-ju, and proportional representative Lee Soo-jin attended. President-elect Yoon said in his greeting, "I will strive to practice politics of consideration and unity based on the Buddhist spirit of Hwajeong." While leaving after the meal, Yoon also shook hands with worshippers who came to welcome him.

A Buddhist community official explained the background of the event, saying, "Originally, the lunch on that day was scheduled for the head of the believers' association, local lawmakers, Democratic Party lawmakers, and former Chief Executive Monk Jaseung, and President-elect Yoon was supposed to have a tea talk in the afternoon. However, due to a change in Yoon's schedule, they ended up having lunch together. There was no special political remark."