By Diplomacy Journal Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Jingwansa Temple in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul on April 7. The visit was organized in response to the President's desire to express his appreciation for Jingwan Temple's role in promoting the unique culture of Korean Buddhism, including its meditation and food.
 

Upon his arrival at the entrance of Jingwansa Temple, the President was warmly greeted by Jin-woo, the head of the Jogye Order, Gyeho, the Buddhist monk of Jingwansa Temple, and Beophae, the Buddhist monk of Jingwansa Temple, in front of Daeungjeon Hall.

The President first participated in the Guanbul ceremony at the entrance of Daeungjeon Hall with great Buddhist monk Jin-woo. The Guanbul ceremony is a ritual to bathe the baby Buddha to show respect for the Buddha and to purify one's body and mind. The President then entered Daeungjeon Hall to pay his respects to the Buddha and listen to a blessing from Jin-woo.

The President had dinner with key members of the Jogye sect at the Korean Cultural Center. "I am well aware of the contributions that Jogye Buddhism and Jingwansa Temple have made in popularizing and spreading meditation for the health of the people's minds," the President said. 

The President also praised Jingwansa Temple for promoting our culture to the world by giving foreigners visiting Korea the opportunity to experience our Buddhist food and cultural heritage. 

The President also learned about the history of Jingwansa Temple, which was founded during the reign of King Hyunjong of Goryeo, and the Taegeuk flag used in the independence movement, which was found at Jingwansa Temple, and expressed his gratitude for the spirit of patriotic Buddhism that "brought us together when the country was in need."

"Not only the Jogye sect but also the religious community is united in supporting the government's healthcare reform to save people's lives, and has made several public statements," Jin-woo said, "and we expect that it will be resolved well, centered on the president."

In response, the president thanked the Jogye sect for its support for the government's healthcare reform and expressed his commitment to protecting people's lives and health.

The dinner menu included pine nut porridge, multigrain rice, mugwort soup, acorn bean paste, wild vegetables, hotpot, tofu, salad, and other temple foods carefully prepared by Jingwansa Temple's master temple chef, Kyeho.

Finally, the President and the guests continued to chat over tea. After the tea chat, the president wrote in the guest book, "May the flavor of Jingwansa Temple, the Garden of the Heart, fill the whole earth."