A senior Buddhist leader said that as society progresses, social minorities often face greater challenges and difficulties than the majority, calling for greater respect for life and fairness for marginalized groups.
“There are many types of laborers in society, such as foreign workers and couriers, who are the backbone of today’s society.
They are considered indispensable because without them, daily services would cease,” said Venerable Jinyu, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, at a special Buddhist ceremony at Bongeunsa Temple on Sunday to mark his 1,000th day in office.
“However, despite their vital role, they often face poor working conditions, including low wages, long hours and lack of job security.
Now, making a loaf of bread has become more important than human life, and profit is more important than human life and dignity,” added the leader of South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, referring to a series of deaths at a bakery in recent years.
Jinyu said that despite the city’s more affluent appearance, hidden places such as alleys have become spaces where loneliness is growing, prompting people to recognize and sympathize with these invisible struggles more.
He went on to say that the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities should be recognized as part of a larger community. They should be accepted, respected and supported like everyone else, he stressed.
“Buddhism is a religion that respects all walks of life and accepts every life without judgment… Therefore, we must not ignore sexual minorities, who are often the ones who suffer the most from hatred and discrimination,” Venerable Jinyu noted.
“The true Buddhist path, the path of the bodhisattva, is to have compassion for those who are suffering and to have the courage to speak up for them,” he added.
Among those present at the ceremony was activist Lee Ho-rim of Korean LGBT Human Rights Solidarity, who expressed hope that Buddhism can continue to help build a society where everyone can live with dignity and equality.
“South Korean society is still struggling to accept sexual minorities, and many cannot openly express their identities at home, school or work,” she said after the ceremony.
As Buddhism is the first religion to support the Anti-Discrimination Law, I hope that Buddhism can continue to advocate for this law and help create a society where everyone can live with dignity and equality.”
