Ven. Jinwoo, the current President of the Jogye Order. The Order is experiencing turmoil following recent allegations regarding his educational background and monastic credentials. [Photo=Yonhap News]

The Central Election Management Committee of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism has announced the election for the 38th President, officially commencing the election schedule. 

The election to select the top administrative leader representing the Korean Buddhist community will be held on Thursday, September 3, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Traditional Culture and Arts Performance Hall within the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul. 

Candidate registration will take place from the 11th to the 13th of next month, and those wishing to run, such as heads of diocesan headquarters, must resign from their posts by the 10th of next month. The electoral college will consist of a total of 321 members, including 81 members of the Central Council and 240 elected from the 24 diocesan headquarters, and is scheduled to be formed between August 19 and 23.

In this election, it is expected that the current President, Ven. Jinwoo, who has led efforts to popularize Buddhism, will seek a second term. Conversely, there is speculation regarding the potential candidacy of Ven. Jeongnyeom, head of Woljeongsa Temple (the 4th diocesan headquarters), and Ven. Gyeongwoo, head of Seonunsa Temple (the 24th diocesan headquarters). 

However, as the election approaches, allegations of false educational background and monastic credentials surrounding Ven. Jinwoo have surfaced, causing a significant stir both within and outside the Buddhist community. 

According to an article by Buddhist Today on the 27th, while Ven. Jinwoo has been known to be a graduate of Gangneung High School, testimonies recently obtained from his elementary and middle school classmates suggest that he stopped attending school around his first or second year after entering Sabuk Middle School in 1973. 

It is also reported that Gangneung High School canceled plans to post a congratulatory banner after verifying that he was not a graduate. Furthermore, contrary to his personal record stating that he received the novice precepts (sami-gye) at Bohyeonsa Temple in Gangneung in 1978, a monk identified as 'A', who was residing at the temple at the time, has drafted a statement confirming that "no novice precepts were conferred at Bohyeonsa Temple at that time," further amplifying the controversy over his monastic record.

In response, the Jogye Order's administrative headquarters stated through a spokesperson, "The President's monastic credentials were confirmed lawfully in accordance with the Order's constitution and laws, and were fully established through the receipt of novice precepts in 1978 and the special ordination ceremony in 1998." 

The administration further stated that it would strictly comply with the law to ensure the election is held in an atmosphere of stability and harmony, and would take stern measures against the spread of false information or unsubstantiated allegations.

However, some council members, protesting the cancellation of the extraordinary session of the Central Council, are staging sit-ins in the lobby of the headquarters building, while others have begun hunger strikes demanding clarification of Ven. Jinwoo's educational and monastic history and his resignation; thus, internal conflict and turmoil within the Order are expected to continue for the time being.