Yoon pledges to run country 'with righteousness' in Buddha's birthday speech

The president said he would do all he could to foster a “warm and happy” society, adding that he “always keeps the Buddha’s teachings in mind.”

President Yoon Suk Yeol, fourth from right, attends a ceremony celebrating Buddha's birthday at Jogye Temple in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Wednesday morning. Yoon promised to run state affairs “with righteousness” and in accordance with the Buddha's teachings in his speech during the event. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk Yeol promised to run state affairs “with righteousness” in a speech during a ceremony celebrating Buddha’s birthday in downtown Seoul on Wednesday.

Speaking at Jogye Temple, Jongno District, where the ceremony was held, Yoon said he would do all he could to foster a “warm and happy” society, adding that he “always keeps the Buddha’s teachings in mind” and will “hold more warmly the hands of those in need and meticulously attend to even the smallest aspects of livelihood issues to bring happiness to the people.”

Calling Buddhism “the foundation of Korea’s spiritual culture,” Yoon noted the religion’s adherents historically “led the way in gathering people’s hearts to overcome crises faced by the country.”

The president also thanked monks of the Jogye Order for spearheading the return of 14th-century Buddhist relics from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston that were taken out of Korea during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation.

Yoon added that the country “can only be at peace when we understand our differences” and expressed his hope that “the Buddha’s merciful teachings will help us progress into a new, peaceful and happy world.”

The ceremony at Jogye Temple was also attended by People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho, Democratic Party floor leader Park Chan-dae, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming and other high-ranking officials from the Buddhist community.

After the ceremony, the president exchanged greetings with most of the dignitaries in attendance, including Cho Kuk, the head of the Rebuilding Korea Party and a former justice minister whose political star was tarnished when the state prosecution service — then under Yoon — launched an investigation into Cho’s family.

The president shook hands briefly with Cho, who has repeatedly called for a special counsel probe into various allegations against the first lady, but the two men did not have a conversation.

The pair last met officially in July 2019, when Yoon was named prosecutor general by then-President Moon Jae-in.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]