Yoon Attends New Year's Great Dharma Assembly... "Government Will Carefully Embrace the Vulnerable and Their Pain"

President and First Lady Attend New Year's Great Dharma Assembly for the First Time... "We Will Do Our Best to Let Warmth Permeate"

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the Buddhist community's New Year's Great Dharma Assembly on the 6th and stated, "We will take greater care of the socially vulnerable and the pains within our society."

On the afternoon of the same day, President Yoon attended the 'Buddhist New Year's Great Dharma Assembly of the Republic of Korea in the year 2567 of the Buddhist calendar' held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, along with First Lady Kim Geon-hee. The New Year's Great Dharma Assembly was jointly hosted by the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order Council (Jongdanhyup), a consultative body of 30 Buddhist sects, and the Buddhist Leaders Forum. This marked the first time a sitting president and spouse attended the New Year's Great Dharma Assembly.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a congratulatory speech at the Korean Buddhist New Year's Great Dharma Assembly for the year 2567 of the Buddhist calendar, held on the 6th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At the event, President Yoon said, "I believe the spirit of patriotic Buddhism and the inheritance of national culture are lessons we all must deeply reflect upon," adding, "I will also dedicate myself to state affairs while cherishing the precious words of the great monk." He further promised, "I will do my best to ensure that warm compassion permeates every corner of the lives of our people."

The presidential couple, together with Jinwoo Sunim, chairman of the Jogye Order Council and head of the Jogye Order Secretariat, prayed for the nation's prosperity and peace by lighting lanterns. President Yoon also participated in the cutting ceremony of a 6-meter-long rice cake commemorating the event.

In his New Year's Dharma talk, Jinwoo Sunim said, "In this era of crisis, the restoration of the spirit of 'the whole world as one flower' (世界一花, Segye Ilhwa) is the only answer," and added, "I pray before Buddha that this Dharma Assembly will serve as a small catalyst and stepping stone for stable national governance."

Meanwhile, about 700 Buddhist figures attended the event. From the National Assembly, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party and president of the National Assembly Buddhist group Jeonggakhoe, along with member lawmakers, were present. From the Presidential Office, Kang Seung-gyu, senior secretary for civil society, and Kim Eun-hye, senior secretary for public relations, attended. From the Cabinet, Park Bo-gyun, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, was present.