(Unofficial Translation)

The COVID-19 situation has prevented us from meeting for a long time. We are joined by the Venerable Wonhaeng, President of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism and Chair of the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders; the Venerable Mundeok, President of the Cheontae Order of Korean Buddhism and Vice Chair of the Association; and other venerable monks representing Korea’s Buddhist orders. I am grateful to you all; your presence here is very valuable.

The spirit of compassion and mutual benefit as practiced by Buddhism has long permeated the hearts of our people. While fighting against COVID-19, we have come to realize more keenly the fact that we are all linked to one another. We have also based Korea’s response to COVID-19 on the will to care for and embrace our neighbors. This is no different from the teaching of Buddhism, “Because all living beings are sick, therefore I am sick.”

The Buddhist community has been at the forefront of efforts to practice epidemic prevention and control guidelines from the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. You made the difficult decision to suspend your services and all other events and to close the gates to your temples. You even postponed the celebration for Buddha’s Birthday and began to pray in the hope of overcoming COVID-19. In May came the surprise announcement about canceling Yeondeunghoe, the lotus lantern festival that has lasted over a thousand years. This was the first time in 40 years – since the declaration of martial law in May 1980 – that the festival had been canceled. We could not see the lotus lantern parade that symbolizes harmony and peace, but the Buddhist community lit a lamp of hope, showing that we can prevail over COVID-19 if difficulties are shared.

I feel grateful and truly regretful at the same time for this bold decision from the Buddhist community as UNESCO is set to announce whether Yeondeunghoe will be inscribed on its Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December. I extend my profound gratitude to Buddhist monks and believers for giving heartwarming comfort and encouragement to those who are exhausted by COVID-19. The Government will do all it can to support its inscription on the UNESCO list, so people around the world will be able to more deeply understand the true value of Korea’s Buddhist spirit and culture.

The protracted COVID-19 outbreak has caused Buddhist services to be suspended for a long time. The Buddhist community is likely undergoing immense hardships. We anticipate various COVID-19-related solutions – including measures to enable religious services amid epidemic prevention and control – to be brought forth at the September 24 inaugural government-religious community consultative body meeting. I hope we will be able to pool our wisdom and overcome these difficulties together.

The Government partially downgraded its epidemic prevention and control measures in the Seoul metropolitan area on September 14. We took this step to protect the people’s livelihoods while keeping most of the measures in place. The Government will safeguard the economy and epidemic prevention and control without fail by maintaining extraordinary vigilance until the complete end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only in Korea but also in all countries around the world, the battle against COVID-19 is becoming a prolonged war with no end in sight. I believe that the Buddhist community will continue to provide enormous courage and strength to our people as you have done to date.

Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration. In 2018, Chairman Kim Jong Un and I declared to the 80 million Koreans and the world that we will move toward peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Buddhist community held a special service to pray for peace and stability on the Peninsula in the lead up to the inter-Korean summit. Just as you had in 2019, your community prayed once more this year for peaceful unification. If we do not forsake hope for engagement and dialogue, we will surely move toward peace and unification.

Buddhism has been a source of strength that has helped Koreans endure their ordeals for over 1,700 years. Buddhism has always stood beside those striving for our country’s defense, independence, democracy and peace. I hope the Buddhist community will continually join forces to open a path toward inter-Korean exchanges and advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

I would like to call on your insights today to help surmount the COVID-19 pandemic as well as economic and national crises. Please feel free to offer your opinions even if they are not related to COVID-19.

Thank you.