Korea Buddhist Federation

Korea Buddhist Federation
Chosŏn'gŭl 조선불교도련맹
Hancha 朝鮮佛敎徒聯盟
Revised Romanization Joseon-bulgyodo-ryeonmaeng
McCune–Reischauer Chosŏn-bulgyodo-ryŏnmaeng

The Korea Buddhist Federation, also called the Chosôn Buddhist Federation, sometime abbreviated Chobulyôn,[1] supervises all activities of Buddhists in the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea. The organization was founded on Dec. 26, 1946.[2]

In 1999 there were 10,000 Buddhists in the DPRK, seventy percent of whom were women, and 60 Buddhist temples.[2]

History

The KBF was established as the North Chosôn Buddhist General Federation on Dec. 26, 1945.[3] It adopted the current name in 1972.[4] In 1945 and in 1949 the organization adopted a five point and a seven point platforms, respectively, which pledged to uphold the North Korean constitution, eliminate vestiges of Japanese imperialism, assist the army, build friendship with the Soviet Union and other socialist states, work for reunification and "foster the spirit of the working class among Buddhists for the prosperity of the father land and the development of its culture."[5] Little information is available about the Korea Buddhist Federation between 1945 and 1972, other than the names and terms of office of its first and second presidents - Kim Seryul (1946-1948) and An Yongsuk (1963-1978). Kim Sunggyôk was a proxies from 1948 to an undetermined date.[6] This was a period of intense anti-religious propaganda and the Federation was said to have changed its name and gone into hiding several times until 1972.[7]

After the passage of the 1972 North Korean constitution, the policy toward religion softened somewhat. The Korean Buddhist Federation began to make declarations against the repression of Buddhists under the Park Chung-hee regime in the south, such as the arrest of Pastor Pak Hyonggyo.[8]

In 1989 the KBF opened a Buddhist Academy at their headquarters in the Moranbong district of Pyongyang. The period of study last for three years and student are accepted if they have a high school graduation certificate and are recommended by a monastery of one of the KBFs city or county committees.[9]

International contacts

In 1986 the Federation joined the World Fellowship of Buddhists.[10]

The KBF has been active in establishing contacts with other Buddhist organizations around the world, including the Tokyo based Korean Buddhists Association in Japan, which is a member organization of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).[11][2] Other contacts have been made with Buddhists in China, India, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka.[2]

In 1976 the KBF joined the Asian Buddhist Committee for Peace. It joined the Asia Buddhist Conference in 1990, upon the latters' establishment.[2]

Leadership

  • Kim Seryul (1946-1948)[12]
  • An Yongsuk (1963-1978)[13]
  • Pak Taeho (1978- 2005)[14]
  • Yu Yongson (2006-2008)[15]
  • Sim Sangjin (2008-2012)[16]
  • Kang Surin (2012-)[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bernard Senécal "Buddhists in the Two Koreas: North-South Interactions" in Journal of Korean Religions, Vol. 4, No. 2, North Korea and Religion (October2013), p.12
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Buddhist Temples, Federation, Education in DPRK
  3. ↑ Senécal p.14
  4. ↑ Senécal p.17
  5. ↑ Senécal p.15
  6. ↑ Senécal p.17, 44n.26
  7. ↑ Senécal pp.16-7
  8. ↑ Senécal p.17
  9. ↑ Senécal p.21
  10. ↑ Senécal p.18
  11. ↑ 3. Chongryun Organizations
  12. ↑ Senécal p.17, 44n.26
  13. ↑ Senécal p.17, 44n.26
  14. ↑ Senécal p.17, 19
  15. ↑ Senécal p.19
  16. ↑ Senécal p.19
  17. ↑ Senécal p.19


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