On the 22nd of June, at Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam, Seoul, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism’s chief administrator, Venerable Jinwoo, will host a “Special Dharma Meeting for Socially Disadvantaged People” as part of marking his 1,000th day in office. This event underscores his commitment to embracing the marginalized and urging society’s attention towards them.
In contrast to earlier in his tenure, where the focus was primarily on Buddhist propagation, Venerable Jinwoo is increasingly emphasizing Buddhism’s societal role. Attendees of this event include victims of rent scams, cleaning workers, call center employees, caregivers, families of various tragedy victims, activists from marginalized communities, and others.
The event aims to advocate for a world free from poverty and discrimination, with Venerable Jinwoo engaging in a lunch conversation with the participants. This initiative is part of a broader shift towards inclusiveness and social responsibility within his administration, which has drawn both praise and criticism from within and outside the Buddhist community.
Venerable Jinwoo also addresses his current challenges, such as the recent forest fires in the Yeongnam region and a fire incident at the Jogye Order headquarters, indicating his proactive stance towards crisis management and recovery efforts.
Through his role as co-chair of the Korean Council of Religious Leaders, he has pledged to prioritize these domestic concerns over participating in an interfaith pilgrimage to Central Asia.
Furthermore, Venerable Jinwoo continues to champion Sun Meditation, holding events like the recent International Sun Meditation Conference in Incheon, aiming to help people alleviate stress and attract future followers and practitioners to Buddhism.