President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hea-kyung attended ceremonies marking Buddha’s Birthday on May 24, 2024 [1].
The visits mark a significant diplomatic gesture, as Lee is the first sitting South Korean president to visit all three of the nation's major Buddhist orders [2].
Lee visited temples representing the Jogye, Taego, and Cheontae Buddhist sects. During these visits, he urged national unity and pledged to lead a government guided by Buddhist principles of equality and compassion [1], [3].
"A government of popular sovereignty will take the Buddha's precious teachings as its guiding light," Lee said [3].
The president emphasized a commitment to social welfare and the protection of vulnerable populations. He said that his administration would create a nation that carefully attends to the lives of each citizen and listens to the voices of those in the lowest places [3].
Lee further committed to a governance model focused on humanitarian outcomes. "We will build a government that 'saves people's lives'," Lee said [3].
Throughout the ceremonies, the president and first lady prayed for the well-being of the public and the stability of the country [1], [3]. The outreach to the three distinct orders—Jogye, Taego, and Cheontae—highlights an effort to encompass the breadth of the Buddhist community in South Korea [2].
“"A government of popular sovereignty will take the Buddha's precious teachings as its guiding light."”
By visiting the Jogye, Taego, and Cheontae orders, President Lee is signaling a move toward broader religious inclusivity and national reconciliation. This break from previous presidential precedents suggests a strategic effort to consolidate support across different spiritual factions and align his administration's social welfare goals with the Buddhist tenets of compassion and equality.
