Buddhists make peace with Lee administration

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- Deciding to repair what had become an awkward
relationship with the incumbent administration over the past four months, the
head of South Korea's largest Buddhist sect officially accepted an apology from
the national police chief on Monday.
"All the police officers in the country have troubles of their own. I understand
that you are in a very difficult position," Ven. Jigwan, the head of the Jogye
Order, told National Police Chief Eo Cheong-soo.
Eo visited Jogye Temple to apologize publicly to the Buddhist leader.
"Let's forget what had happened," Jigwan said.
President Lee Myung-bak, a staunch Christian, came under fire for alleged
religious bias after Jigwan was subjected to a police inspection in late July.
Police officers, patrolling Jogye temple for civic activists suspected of
organizing anti-government street protests in May, had stopped Jigwan's car and
searched the trunk, an act seen as humiliating to the religious leader. The
protesters had been taking refuge at the temple.
The incident enraged the country's Buddhists, who slammed the police for
disrespecting the highly revered Buddhist leader and demanded Eo's resignation.
Massive protests against the Lee government were held in August.
The tension cooled some in September after President Lee expressed regrets for
actions he said could have been seen as evidence of religious bias.
"There will be no more misunderstanding or improper incidents (against the
Buddhists)," Eo said.
All of the suspects who were taking refuge inside Jogye Temple were apprehended
earlier this month after slipping past a 24-hour police patrol days earlier.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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