President Moon Jae-in delivers a speech during a Buddhist ceremony to pray for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, at COEX in Seoul on April 17.

By Sohn JiAe

Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in has called on Buddhists to show their support for peace on the Korean Peninsula. “The Hwajaeng theory (화쟁, 和爭) espoused by Wonhyo (원효, 元曉) (617-686), one of the greatest masters in the history of Korean Buddhism, means a ‘cooperative resolution of conflict,’ and it will hopefully be fulfilled on the peninsula, as we resolve conflicts and division between the two Koreas,” he said. 

His remarks came during a Buddhist ceremony on April 17 to pray for security and peace on the peninsula, with chief monks and representatives from major temples across the country, and also some non-Korean Buddhists, in attendance. 

“Not only the reunion of separated families from the Korean War (1950-1953) and exchanges between South and North Koreans across social, economic and cultural areas, but also religious exchanges will hopefully be carried out more actively,” said President Moon said. “Religious exchanges, for example, involving Bohyeonsa, Subgyesa and Yeongtongsa temples would help to facilitate such exchanges between South and North Korean Buddhists.”

The president then called for the Buddhist community’s support to help achieve true peace and unity on the peninsula. “Now, a breakthrough shift is about to begin in world history, a shift that will create a new international order,” he said. 

President Moon Jae-in (second from left) and first lady Kim Jung-sook pray for peace on the Korean Peninsula, in Seoul on April 17.

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