South Korea’s largest Buddhist order has announced that it intends to launch various inter-Korean projects this year with its North Korean counterpart. The projects will include overnight temple stays at Singye Temple on Mount Kumgang in North Korea.

Venerable Wonhaeng, president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, disclosed the plan on Wednesday at the order’s New Year press conference at the Memorial Hall of Korean Buddhist History and Culture in Seoul, announcing that the Jogye Order would “open a new chapter in inter-Korean Buddhist exchanges in the year 2019.” (Yonhap News Agency)

During the press conference, Ven. Wonhaeng noted that discussions about a potential temple stay program at Mount Kumgang have already been held with the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, adding “we [the Jogye Order] are hopeful that we will be able to hold a temple stay program as we successfully completed a restoration project of Shingye Temple in the past.” (Dong-A Ilbo)

The Jogye Order is planning to hold a joint ceremony for the New Year with the North Korean Chosun Buddhist Federation on Mount Kumgang in February, when Ven. Wonhaeng hopes to discuss the temple stay and other exchange projects. “(We) will push for discussion with related [North Korean] bodies in order that we can arrange for a temple stay [program] in Singye Temple on Mount Kumgang,” the monk said. (Yonhap New Agency)

If the North Korean Buddhist associations agree with the inter-Korean temple stay plans, additional facilities and accommodation will need to be built at Singye Temple and South Korean monks would need to be dispatched to help with the program. According to Ven. Wonhaeng, the plan will first be discussed within the Jogye Order before negotiations are opened with any North Korean partners.