Police Chief Makes Peace With Buddhists

National Police Agency Commissioner General Eo Cheong-soo (right) bids farewell to the Venerable Jigwan, the chief executive of Korea`s largest Buddhist order Jogye, with a “hapjang,” the Buddhist greeting where palms are put together in front of one’s chest. Eo apologized for discriminatory behavior against Buddhists yesterday afternoon. Jigwan accepted the apology, saying, “Let everything from the past go.” This was considered a de facto end to the tension between the government and the Buddhist community that had started since the beginning of the Lee administration. Buddhists had consistently demanded Eo’s resignation for religious bias, including a police search of Jigwan’s car.

ufo@donga.com