President Yoon: "We Will Listen to Religious Voices and Reflect Them in State Affairs"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 28th, President Yoon Suk-yeol met with religious leaders and said, "I will continue to listen to the voices of the religious community and ensure they are reflected in state affairs."

President Yoon made these remarks during his opening speech at a luncheon held in the large conference room of the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul, where he invited leaders from the seven major religious denominations: Buddhism, Protestantism, Catholicism, Won Buddhism, Confucianism, Cheondoism, and the Korean Council of Indigenous Religions.

Attending the luncheon were Ven. Wonhaeng, Chief Executive of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism; Ven. Muwon, Chief Executive of the Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism; Ryu Young-mo, President of the Korea Christian Federation; Lee Hong-jung, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK); Archbishop Kim Hee-jung of the Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju; Bishop Lee Yong-hoon, Chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea; Na Sang-ho, Director of the Won Buddhist Headquarters; Son Jin-woo, Director of Sungkyunkwan; Park Sang-jong, Chief of Cheondoism; and Kim Ryeong-ha, Chairman of the Korean Council of Indigenous Religions.

From the Presidential Office, alongside President Yoon, were Chief Presidential Secretary Kim Dae-gi, Senior Secretary for Civil Society Kang Seung-gyu, Spokesperson Kang In-seon, Secretary for National Unity Choi Cheol-gyu, and Acting Secretary for Religion and Multicultural Affairs Jeon Seon-young (Senior Administrative Officer). From the government, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo-gyun and Director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Dae-hyun also attended.

President Yoon emphasized, "We have created a Secretary for Religion and Multicultural Affairs in the Presidential Office, which did not exist before," and added, "I will continue to meet and seek your valuable opinions whenever possible."

He went on to say, "The task of our era is national unity," and urged, "I ask the religious community to play a greater role in fostering unity that transcends ideology, region, and generations."

The meal was a Korean-style lunchbox featuring a seven-course meal called Chilcheopbansang, symbolizing gratitude to the seven major denominations and the theme of 'Happiness Created Together by Seven' for national harmony.

Representing the religious community, Ven. Wonhaeng said,

Speaking on behalf of religious leaders, Ven. Wonhaeng stated, "Just as we have overcome numerous difficulties with the theme of fairness and common sense and earned the people's choice, the president's philosophy of governance?that the people are the true owners of the country?will surely bear precious fruit."

He continued, "We religious leaders will also do our best to harmonize by respecting the characteristics of each religion and fulfill our social responsibilities while serving as the spiritual foundation for the people in our respective roles."

Pastor Lee Hong-jung expressed, "I hope Korean politics will move beyond the progressive-conservative frame and develop into a mature democratic politics that achieves national unity by moving toward an inclusive center."