Temples Visited One After Another to Pray for National Unity
President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th and is moving after paying respects at the Nahanjeon Hall. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Jingwansa Temple located in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th, the Presidential Office announced.
On the 5th, President Yoon visited Samgwangsa Temple, the second temple of the Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism located in Busan and one of Busan's three major temples. Continuing his temple visits the day before, he prayed for national unity.
This visit was made according to President Yoon's wish to express gratitude for Jingwansa Temple's leading role in promoting Korea's unique Buddhist culture, including meditation and cuisine.
Upon President Yoon's arrival at the entrance of Jingwansa, Jogye Order Chief Executive Jinwoo Sunim, Jingwansa Head Monk Gyeho Sunim, and Jingwansa Chief Priest Beophae Sunim welcomed him in front of the Daeungjeon Hall.
President Yoon participated in the bathing ceremony of the baby Buddha (Gwanbul ritual) at the entrance of the Daeungjeon Hall together with Jinwoo Sunim. The Gwanbul ritual is a ceremony of bathing the baby Buddha, performed to show respect to Buddha and to purify one's body and mind. Afterwards, the President entered the Daeungjeon Hall, paid homage to Buddha, and listened to Jinwoo Sunim's blessings.
Later, President Yoon had dinner with key figures of the Jogye Order at the Korean Culture Experience Center. He said, "I am well aware that the Jogye Order and Jingwansa have contributed to popularizing and spreading meditation for the mental health of the people." He highly praised Jingwansa for providing opportunities for foreigners visiting Korea to experience Korean Buddhist cuisine and cultural heritage, thereby promoting Korean culture worldwide.
He also heard about the history of Jingwansa, founded during the reign of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo, and the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) used in the independence movement discovered at Jingwansa, saying, "I am also grateful for the spirit of patriotic Buddhism that united to protect the country in difficult times."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is signing the guestbook after a dinner with Jinwoo Sunim, the Chief Executive of the Jogye Order, and other key figures of the Jogye Order at the Han Culture Experience Center of Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Jinwoo Sunim said, "Not only the Jogye Order but also the religious community wholeheartedly supports the government's medical reform efforts to save the lives of the people, and several public statements have been issued." He added, "I expect that the issue will be well resolved with the President at the center." In response, the President expressed gratitude for the Jogye Order's support for the government's medical reform and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the lives and health of the people.
The dinner menu featured temple cuisine carefully prepared by Jingwansa Head Monk Gyeho Sunim, a master of temple food of the Jogye Order, including pine nut porridge, multigrain rice, mugwort soybean paste soup, acorn jelly, wild vegetables, jeon (Korean pancakes), tofu, and salad. After the tea conversation with attendees, President Yoon wrote in the guestbook, "May the Dharma fragrance of Jingwansa, the garden of the heart, fill the entire land."
Attending the visit from the Presidential Office were Secretary General Lee Gwan-seop, Second Deputy Director of the National Security Office In Seong-hwan, and Senior Secretary for Social Affairs Jang Sang-yoon.
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