South Korean President to Apologize for Religious Bias Tuesday

September 8, 2008

Author: Chosun Ilbo

Source: The Buddhist Channel/Daily Press

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=45,7091,0,0,1,0

President Lee Myung-bak will express regret over what Buddhist circles see as religious bias in a government dominated by evangelical Christians on Tuesday morning, to coincide with his approval of a bill in a Cabinet meeting that prohibits religious bias among public servants.

Lee will apparently express regret over a series of incidents in and outside the government that caused protests from Buddhists while exhorting public servants to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents.

In a meeting of senior presidential secretaries on Aug. 25, Lee said public servants “should not make remarks or take action that might undermine national harmony. Government agencies concerned should work out a bill and a systemic way to improve the situation."

Cheong Wa Dae officials and Buddhist leaders in a series of meetings last weekend closed the gap in their views on the bill on public servants' duties and Lee's expression of regret.