SEOUL - At a Buddhist New Year's celebration on Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol committed to bolstering efforts to preserve South Korea's Buddhist and other religious heritages. The event, jointly organized by the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders and the Buddhist leaders' forum of the Jogye Order, was attended by approximately 800 individuals, including public members, Buddhist leaders like Jogye leader Ven. Jinwoo, lawmakers, and government officials, commemorating the 2568th year of the Buddhist calendar. In his address, President Yoon acknowledged Buddhism's integral role in the nation's culture and lauded the Buddhist community for its contributions to the cultural heritage of South Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the government plans to enhance the protection of religious heritages by creating a dedicated position within the Cultural Heritage Administration, set to undergo reorganization in May. Furthermore, Yoon highlighted a newly passed bill aimed at preserving and supporting traditional temples, ensuring the proper inheritance of Buddhist heritage.