Spirit of Patriotic Buddhism in Gyeongbuk... 'Gyeongbuk Province Temple Independence Movement Academic Conference' Held

Published 11 Aug.2024 11:58(KST)

Updated 03 Aug.2025 11:09(KST)

Highlighting the Anti-Japanese Independence Movement of Temples and Monks in the Gyeongbuk Region

Dorisa Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism (Chief Monk Myoin) and Yeongnam Ilbo jointly held the 'Academic Conference on Independence Movements of Temples in Gyeongbuk Province' at Seolseondang Hall of Dorisa Temple in Haepyeong-myeon, Gumi City on August 10.

Academic Conference on the Independence Movement of Temples in Gyeongbuk Province.

This academic conference was organized to shed light on the noble activities of monks who, during the Japanese colonial period, did not consider their own safety and endured hardships to reclaim their lost country, as well as the temples under the 8th District of the Jogye Order in the Gyeongbuk region that served as the foundation for these efforts.

The conference, under the subtitle 'The March 1st Independence Movement of Temples in the Central and Western Gyeongbuk Region,' featured presentations and discussions in the following order: 'The March 1st Movement of the Kimryongsa Regional Hakrim,' 'The Life and Independence Movement of Kim Bongryul,' and 'The Independence Movement of Kim Kyunghwan, a Scholarly Monk of Dorisa Temple during the Japanese Colonial Period.'

These presentations highlighted various aspects of the anti-Japanese independence movements by temples and monks in the Gyeongbuk region, which had not been widely known, and left a deep impression on the attendees.

Congratulatory Address by Kim Jangho, Mayor of Gumi.

Mayor Kim Jangho stated, "Temples and monks in the Buddhist community have always demonstrated the spirit of national defense Buddhism by risking their lives for the country and the people whenever the nation was in danger," and added, "I hope this academic conference will serve as an opportunity to properly publicize the independence movement activities of the Buddhist community in the central and western Gyeongbuk region and to honor their noble intentions." He emphasized, "Gumi City will do its utmost to honor independence patriots and others in order to remember the great legacy of our forebears."