President Lee Jae-myung attended a Buddhist ceremony at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul on May 24, 2024 [1], where he called for national unity.
The event marks a significant intersection of spiritual leadership and government policy, as the president linked Buddhist teachings to the necessity of reducing social conflict and national crises.
Speaking at the temple in the Jongno district, Lee said that the teachings of the Buddha serve as a lamp for "integration and harmony." He said that the teachings of the Buddha have healed pain during every national crisis [1]. Lee said that the lessons of harmony over confrontation serve as a sturdy support for South Korean society [1].
The ceremony took place on Buddha's Birthday, which corresponds to the Buddhist year 2570 [2]. While the event focused on spiritual reflection, the president used the platform to address the persistence of online hatred and defamation within the country.
Lee specifically addressed the controversy surrounding the mocking of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun. During the event, Lee said to review the possibility of shutting down the Ilbe website [1]. The website, known as Ilgan Best, has been a focal point of controversy due to its history of hate speech and targeted harassment.
By ordering a review of the site's closure, the president signaled a move toward more aggressive state intervention against online platforms that foster extreme social division. This directive follows the president's broader call for the country to move past ideological conflict and embrace a more inclusive national identity.
“"The teachings of the Buddha have healed pain during every national crisis"”
The directive to review the closure of Ilbe represents a potential escalation in the South Korean government's approach to regulating online speech. By linking the pursuit of national harmony with the removal of a specific platform known for right-wing extremism and mockery of political figures, the administration is positioning the fight against digital hate speech as a matter of national stability and social healing.
