The Art of Mindfulness with Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, April 29, 2013

Seoul, South Korea -- Plum Village sits silently within the serene countryside of Bordeaux, France.

Vesak in Korea to be celebrated on May 17.

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, Apr 16, 2013

Seoul, South Korea -- Vesak day 2013 for Koreans has been set on May 17th, and the Lotus Lantern Festival Commission is beginning their preparations leading to the Festival which will be held on May 11th.

"Stolen" Buddhist statue raise friction between Japan and South Korea

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, March 30, 2013

Seoul, South Korea -- In October 2012, a bronze standing statue of Tathagata Buddha, designated an important cultural property by the Japanese government, from Kaijinjinja shrine, and a seated statue of the Kanzeon Bodhisattva, designated a tangible cultural property by Nagasaki Prefecture, from Kannonji temple were stolen by a theft ring of five South Koreans causing further diplomatic dispute between Japan and Korea.

Korean Protestant pastor urinates inside Buddhist temple, community apologises

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, March 25, 2013

Seoul, South Korea -- The Korean protestant community sent an official letter of apology to the abbot of Donghwasa temple, Ven. Sungman, on regarding the actions of the Korean Protestant pastor, Seong, who urinated in the dharma hall and vandalized the Buddhist portraits with a permanent marker.

Tibetans and Koreans jointly mark 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, march 25, 2013

Seoul, South Korea -- On March 10, 2013, Tibet House Korea and Jogye Administration of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism held an event at the Buddhist History and Cultural Memory Hall of Jogye Order of the Korean Buddhism in Seoul to support the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day.

Failed talks over statue by Korean and Japanese Buddhist monks

By Jeong Nam-ku, The Hankyoreh, March 16, 2013

Japanese monks seeking return of Gwaneum Bosal statue, while Koreans say it could have been plundered from Korea

Tokyo, Japan -- Monks from Buseok Temple in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, visited Kannon Temple on the Japanese island of Tsushima to discuss the issue of the Buddha (Gwaneum Bosal) statue, but the talks failed when Japanese Kannon Temple monks declined to meet.

Jogye Order Buddhist School of International Studies holds first graduation ceremony

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, Mar 10, 2013

Seoul, South Korea -- After 2 years since the opening, The Jogye Order Buddhist School of International Studies held it’s first graduation ceremony with 9 monastic graduates at Hwaunsa temple in Gyeonggi province on February 22nd, 2013.

Third anniversary of Ven. Beopjeong's passing commemorated

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, Mar 10, 2013

Seoul, South Korea -- The third year funeral ritual of Ven. Beopjeong was held on March 7th, 2013 at Kilsangsa monastery in Seoul, Korea.

Termites infest famous Korean temples

by Emi Hailey Hayakawa, BTN, Feb 25, 2013

Seoul, South Korea -- Termites have been a constant problem in the traditional Korean buildings, since most of Korea’s cultural properties are made of wood. Termites penetrate and devour the buildings, which include traditional Korean Buddhist monasteries.

Korean Christians and Protestants continue vandalism acts on

by Emi hayakawa, BTN, Nov 6, 2012

Seoul, South Korea -- Vandalism and arson of Buddhist temples and treasures, and important cultural properties relating to Buddhism by the Korean Christian and Protestant communities continue. Although many legislative laws have changed to protect cultural properties and national treasure after the tragic arson of the Namdaemun gate, national treasure No.1, vandalism to Buddhist temples and Buddhist treasures continue in Korea.