The Associated PressPublished: September 9, 2008
SEOUL, South Korea: South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday expressed regret to Buddhists who have accused his predominantly Christian Cabinet of discriminating against them.
Lee, a Christian, made the comments at a Cabinet meeting in an attempt to soothe the anger of Buddhists who have accused Lee's administration of pro-Christian bias in personnel appointments and other policies. They have noted that he filled most of his Cabinet and top presidential posts with other Christians.
"It is deeply regrettable that the heart of the Buddhist society has been hurt by words and deeds by some officials that could cause misunderstanding," Lee said in the televised comments.
In a further appeasement gesture, the government also revised the code of conduct for public officials to include a clause that they should maintain religious neutrality when carrying out duties.
Buddhist anger spiked when police inspected the car of a top Buddhist monk in July when he left his Seoul temple where civic activists were holed up to avoid arrests for allegedly organizing illegal rallies. Buddhists took the inspection as a slight to their religion.
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They held a protest rally in Seoul last month that drew 60,000 people, including 7,000 monks clad in gray Buddhist garb, and demanded Lee sack the country's police chief and apologize.
The government has denied any religious discrimination.
Lee's expression of regret came amid media speculation that his government may face bigger protests similar to those over U.S. beef imports that had rocked the new president in his first months in office.
South Korea is a country where religious diversity is widely respected and there is no history of sectarian disputes between Christians and Buddhists.
Buddhism is the oldest major religion in Korea, though Christianity has grown dramatically, especially during the 20th century. According to government census figures, Buddhists made up 22.8 percent of the population in 2005, while Christians accounted for 29.2 percent. Some 48 percent declined to list any religion.
Lee is not the first Christian to serve as South Korea's president. Others include Syngman Rhee, Kim Young-sam and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Kim Dae-jung.
Of the 15 members of Lee's Cabinet, 12 are Christian and one is Buddhist.
