Weekend Gatherings in Front of Temples... Court Rules "Not an Interference with Religious Activities"

Published 07 Feb.2024 16:46(KST)

A temple in Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk, filed an injunction with the court requesting a ban on environmental group rallies held around the area every weekend, but the request was denied.

[Photo by Beopryul Newspaper]

The 21st Civil Division of the Jeonju District Court (Chief Judge Lee Yong-hee) announced on the 4th that it dismissed the injunction filed by the Daeseung Buddhism Yangwoohoe Maintenance Foundation against the Wanju Nature Guardians Coalition and others to prohibit interference with religious activities.

The Wanju Nature Guardians Coalition has claimed since 2020 that the temple privatized a national road and blocked passage, and has conducted walking exercises with environmental activists around the temple 184 times to date.

On the other hand, the temple side has repeatedly stated, "We have been striving to coexist with residents and preserve Sinheung Valley, one of the nine scenic spots of Wanju," and argued that "religious activities are being significantly disrupted by the unilateral rallies of the environmental groups."

The court sided with the environmental groups.

The bench stated, "Currently, the environmental groups are only conducting the 'Sinheung Valley Saturday Walking Exercise' or holding rallies and demonstrations related to environmental protection activities," and "It appears that they have not obstructed traffic on the temple's access road or damaged the temple's reputation."

Furthermore, the court noted, "The temple is requesting a ban on all rallies and demonstrations within a wide range of 150 meters radius from the main gate besides the main gate itself," and "Based on the materials submitted so far, it is insufficient to conclude that the walking exercises exceed the limits of the constitutional rights to assembly, demonstration, and freedom of expression."