Jinwoo Sunim, Newly Appointed Chief Administrator of Jogye Order, Inauguration Ceremony... Declaration of the 'Buddhism Revival Era'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] Jinwoo Sunim, the newly appointed Chief Executive of the Jogye Order, held an inauguration Dharma assembly on the 5th and declared an 'Era of Buddhist Revival.'

On this day, the Jogye Order held the inauguration Dharma assembly for the 37th Chief Executive Jinwoo Sunim around Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The gathering was attended by about 10,000 people (estimated by the Jogye Order), including political and government officials and Buddhists.

In his inaugural address, Jinwoo Sunim emphasized, "The 37th executive team of the Jogye Order declares that it will live solely according to the Buddha's teachings, embrace the suffering of sentient beings, become a friend to the world, and open a new chapter in the revival of Buddhism."

The three key principles emphasized by Jinwoo Sunim are 'Trusted Buddhism,' 'Respected Buddhism,' and 'Inclusive Buddhism.'

He stated, "To achieve Trusted Buddhism, we will strengthen social communication based on the wisdom of practice," and added, "We will develop Korea's traditional Buddhist cultural heritage into diverse content so that the public and the world can share it."

For this, he requested cooperation from the government and political circles. He said, "Although the Cultural Heritage Protection Act was amended to resolve the issue of entrance fees to cultural heritage sites, considerable time and effort are required to implement it," and added, "We will work together with the government and political circles to find reasonable support measures for temples managing nationally designated cultural properties while alleviating public inconvenience."

Furthermore, he urged political circles, the government, and local governments to take interest in restoring the rock-carved Buddha statue found toppled at Namsan in Gyeongju and in establishing a world-class meditation healing center.

Political leaders and neighboring religious figures congratulated Jinwoo Sunim on his inauguration through relay congratulatory speeches. President Yoon Seok-yeol said in his congratulatory message, "I hope you will play a significant role based on the spirit of practice, aspiration, harmony, and communication you have built so far, so that our country can overcome this era of crisis and open a new era of hope." Other congratulatory messages were delivered by National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Jeong Jin-seok, Democratic Party Leader Lee Jae-myung, and Reverend Lee Hong-jung, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea.

Jinwoo Sunim was the sole candidate in the Chief Executive election last August and secured the position as the next Chief Executive through consensus and recommendation by senior monks. Born in 1961 in Gangneung, he received the novice precepts in 1978 and full ordination in 1998. He served as the head monk of Yongheungsa Temple in Damyang from 1999 to 2012 and of Baekyangsa Temple from 2012 to 2014. From 2019, he served as the head of the Jogye Order Education Institute for three years.