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NEWS | EASTERN HORIZON 51

K-pop group New Jeans.
A statue made of chocolate,
alongside colorful drawings of
Buddha hanging atop a makeshift
structure, was a demonstration of
that change -- both from the inside
and outside the order.
“I wanted to explore beyond
what’s traditional,” Kim Min-ji
said of her Pensive Bodhisattva
Visitors take part in 300 prostrations during the 2024 Seoul International Buddhism Expo at made of chocolate. To Sheryn, as
Setec in Seoul on Saturday. (Choi Si-young/The Korea Herald) the 30-year-old artist is known,
chocolate was an option both
religious and commercially viable.
Buddhism Puts

Reception to the attempts at
making Buddhism “fresh” was
On Young Face encouraging -- even from those
in the age group who might view
“expanding the horizons” as a
By Choi Si-young, The Korea Herald, April 8, 2024
mockery of what should be treated
with exceptional respect.
Seoul, South Korea -- Buddhism That does not mean he shies away
has traditionally prioritized silence, from “exploring what each faith has “No, I don’t see EDM as a deviation,”
a hallmark of meditation that sets to offer,” he noted, saying the EDM said Jeong Eun-ae, a 60-year-old
the religion apart. That notion took stage -- which sparked a surge in Buddhist who was busy helping
a hard turn Thursday as a DJ in a traffic that downed the website for people put on VR headsets playing
monk’s robe kicked off the four- the expo -- could be an opening for Buddhist scriptures at her booth,
day International Buddhism Expo the younger generation, who often one of 435 booths set up at Setec.
in Seoul, shouting out Buddhist equate having a faith with giving up
verses to the beat of electronic on life’s “joys.” “In Buddhism, there is no set of
dance music. formalities to adhere to in the first
That thinking is not at odds with place, hence no digression to call
“I’d say the event is living up to the leadership at the Jogye Order of out,” she added. “And second, what
the slogan they put out,” said Kim Korean Buddhism, the expo organizer, matters is people follow Buddhist
Hyung-sik, an undergraduate according to a senior official at the teachings in real life -- actually
Seoulite in 20s attending the expo largest Buddhist sect in Korea. doing what they are told to do.”
on the first day, referring to the
slogan written across the stage that “We need to think fresh to bring According to Jeong, piquing
read “Joyful Buddhism.” in fresh believers,” the official interest is paramount, and she
said, adding there had been little sees no problems in reaching out
Kim, who also attended last year’s or almost no internal opposition to younger people with what they
10th anniversary edition, is an to inviting onstage the monk DJ find absorbing, like EDM, as long
atheist who has no intention of -- a comedian who has appeared in as practices and traditions are not
joining a religion. previous Jogye-organized events as sacrificed in the process or at the
the “Ven. New Jean,” wordplay on expense of missionary work.