Religion: Society: News: Hankyoreh Mobile

As violence and human rights abuses by the Myanmar military are increasing day by day, the Korean religious community has bolstered them and supported the democratization movement of Myanmar citizens. It is noteworthy that the Buddhist world, which has been less prominent compared to Protestants and Catholics in the process of the Korean democratization movement, is actively advancing this time. This is because 90% of the people, including Myanmar’s democratic movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi, are Buddhists, and Myanmar is a representative Buddhist country most visited by Korean monks and Buddhists for training, so it has a special attachment. Buddhist groups have recently formed a’Buddhist Action for Democracy in Myanmar’ and are carrying out a religious signing campaign calling for the adoption of a resolution of the UN Security Council that framed the ban on arms exports to Myanmar and the freezing of foreign assets of the Myanmar military. In addition, it was decided to continue a one-person protest and prayer meeting in front of the diplomatic mission in Korea. On the 1st, three people, including Buddhist monk Jimong, Buddhist monk Hyedo, and Buddhist monk Jongsu, who are the chairs of the Jogye-jong social and labor committee, applied for special entry to Myanmar at the Myanmar embassy in Seoul, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. He will go directly to Myanmar and pray in hopes that the killings and violence will cease. Earlier, the monks of the Jogye Order Social and Labor Committee marched on the 5th of last month along with Myanmar students and activists residing in Korea to urge democracy in Myanmar and walk 6km away from downtown Seoul. Practical Buddhism National Sangha Association, a representative democratization organization in Buddhism, urged,’As in Korea in the 1980s, so-called high priests who remain silent even though the people are dying will come out and lead the situation on the right path’. The Jogye Order and the Korean Buddhist Religion Council, a group of 31 Buddhist denominations, issued a statement urging, “The Myanmar military should immediately stop killing the people.” Jogye-jong General Secretary Jo Gye-jong decided to launch a’Pray for Democracy in Myanmar’ fundraising campaign with the Buddhist charity’Beautiful Companion’ until June 30, and first delivered 5 million won in donations from the vice-president monks of the General Secretary.

In Catholicism, consensus about the photographs of Myanmar nuns calling for the cessation of violence in front of military and police guns spread, and on the 11th of last month, under the joint name of the “Korean Catholic Bishops,” they expressed concern about the bloodshed in Myanmar and hoped that no more victims would occur. In the meantime, a statement revealing solidarity with Myanmar was released. It is also unusual for Cardinal Soo-jeong Yeom, the head of the Seoul Archdiocese, who has maintained conservatism so far to support the democratization of Myanmar. On the 12th of last month, Cardinal Yeom sent a letter to the Catholic Church in Myanmar, expressing his intention to solidarity with the people of Myanmar who are fighting for democracy, and sent an emergency grant of $50,000 to the Cardinal of Myanmar. The National Priesthood for the Realization of Catholic Reformation also started a fundraising campaign to help the people of Myanmar. On the 15th of last month, they presented a Mass in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Korea to pray for the protection of Myanmar’s democracy. The Gwangju Justice and Peace Committee also said, “The Myanmar crisis reminds me of the pain of Gwangju” and gave a Mass for democracy and withdrawal of the Myanmar military coup at Yeomju Cathedral in Gwangju on the 22nd of last month.

In Protestant churches, various organizations have organized’Christian Action for Democratization of Myanmar’ and have held a weekly’Thursday Prayer Meeting for the Restoration of Democracy and Human Rights in Myanmar’ in front of the Embassy of Myanmar since the 25th of last month. On the 11th of last month, the heads of denominations and institutions of the Korean Association of Christian Churches (NCCK) said, “Until the day when the democracy of Myanmar is realized and the values ​​of people’s freedom and human rights are respected, we will pray and solidarity with the Korean church and the world’s religious civil society.” Following the declaration, at the Easter service on the 4th, they prayed for Myanmar’s democracy with Father David Brantan of the Anglican Church of Myanmar. The Korean Federation of Churches also issued a statement concerned about the situation of violence in Myanmar, and on the 1st, it invited the leaders of the Myanmar churches living in Korea to share their opinions on the situation in Myanmar and donate 20 million won. Won Buddhism also held a prayer ceremony for peace and cessation of military coups in Myanmar on the 20th of last month at the Holy Land in Seongju, Gyeongbuk, where they are campaigning against the US base of THAAD. On the 18th of last month, the Korean Religious Peace Conference (KCRP), a gathering of religious leaders in Korea, issued a statement titled’The Myanmar People’s Uprising Must Win’ and expressed its support. Religious reporter Jo Hyun [email protected]