Jinwoo Monk will lead the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism for another term, focusing on the theme of 'A New Century for Korean Buddhism.' Reflecting on the past four years, during which he guided the organization through stability and change, Jinwoo plans to accelerate reforms, including revising the election system for the General Secretary, decentralizing authority, and expanding welfare for monks, as well as promoting K-meditation globally.
The Central Election Management Committee of the Jogye Order announced on September 3 that Jinwoo Monk has been elected as the new General Secretary during the election held at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno, Seoul.
In this indirect election, all 321 voters participated, with 57% (183 votes) supporting Jinwoo Monk.
In his acceptance speech, Jinwoo stated, "I will dedicate myself to opening a new century for Korean Buddhism," adding, "Today's choice is not just support for me personally, but a serious call for stability and unity to achieve a new leap for Korean Buddhism."
He also promised to value all opinions expressed during the election process, stating, "I will listen with humility to ensure no one feels excluded, and together with the districts and the community, we will open the future of the order."
This marks the first re-election of a General Secretary in 13 years since Jaesung Monk, who served as the 33rd and 34th General Secretary. Following the reform of the order in 1994, Jinwoo is the second to be re-elected after Jaesung. He was elected unopposed in 2022 as the 37th General Secretary. This time, he faced a competitive election.
Jinwoo Monk, who was ordained under his teacher, Baekwoon Monk, in 1978, has held various positions, including head of Sinheungsa, Yongheungsa, and Baekyangsa temples, as well as serving as the acting General Secretary, president of the Buddhist Newspaper, and the 8th head of the Education Department of the Jogye Order.
His campaign slogan for the new term is 'From Stability to Leap.' Building on the stability and changes achieved in the past four years, he aims to initiate significant reforms in the next four years. Jinwoo declared his candidacy on August 11, stating, "I will open a new century for Korean Buddhism," and emphasized that the coming years should be a time to leap toward a future vision based on stability and change.
Since taking office in 2022, Jinwoo has focused on stabilizing the order and expanding the social base of Buddhism. He addressed long-standing issues such as cultural heritage admission fees and has worked to promote Buddhist culture through events like the Lantern Festival, temple stays, and temple cuisine. Recently, he has positioned meditation as a core initiative of the order, aiming to make it more accessible to the public through events like the Seoul International Buddhist Expo.
In his second term, Jinwoo is expected to accelerate internal reforms within the order. He has pledged to revise the election system for the General Secretary, decentralize authority, enhance welfare for monks, and improve the rights of nuns. Regarding the election system, he plans to form a special committee to discuss potential improvements, from a recommendation system to direct elections.
He also aims to transfer authority concentrated in the central office to the districts, gradually reducing central contributions and providing basic living expenses to all monks.
Jinwoo plans to expand outreach efforts by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and new media to connect with younger generations, promoting meditation as 'mind security' and 'mind movement' to globalize 'K-meditation.' He also intends to brand Korean Buddhist culture globally through events like the Lantern Festival, temple stays, and temple cuisine.
The General Secretary oversees the administrative affairs of the Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist organization in South Korea, managing 25 district headquarters, including Haeinsa, Tongdosa, and Songgwangsa, along with over 3,000 temples. The position includes authority over the appointment of administrative staff and heads of temples, as well as supervision of the order's assets and budget approvals for major temples. The General Secretary also automatically serves as the president of the Korean Buddhist Council and co-chair of the Korean Religious Leaders Council.
With significant authority comes considerable challenges. The success of Jinwoo's term will depend on whether he can translate his promises of election reform, decentralization, and monk welfare into actual changes. Notably, his commitment to transferring power from the central office to the districts requires him to relinquish some of his own authority, making the implementation process particularly noteworthy. Additionally, reconciling internal conflicts revealed during the election, including disputes over candidate qualifications and allegations of election misconduct, will be crucial.
The Jogye Order will hold a meeting of its elders on September 4 at 2 p.m. to proceed with the confirmation process for the newly elected General Secretary. Following this approval, Jinwoo Monk will begin his term as the 38th General Secretary on September 28, serving for four years.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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