Seoul, South Korea – Finn Jinwoo, the current leader of the Jogi sect, was officially elected to a new term as head of South Korea’s largest Buddhist sect.
He won the internal election with 57 percent of the vote, while his opponent, Finn Jeongwoo, received 43 percent.
A future agenda with enormous tasks and broad influence
This victory marks a significant milestone, as Jinwoo becomes only the second person in the history of the Jogie sect to win a second term.
The last time this happened was in 2013 when Vin Jaseong achieved this feat.
Following the announcement of the results, Jinwoo stated, “I will dedicate myself
wholeheartedly to ushering in a new century for Korean Buddhism.”
He pledged to work towards internal stability and to embrace all parties involved in the election process.
He will also focus on modernizing religious discourse to make Buddhism
more youthful, dynamic, and accessible to younger generations.
As the head of the country’s largest Buddhist organization,
Jinwoo will directly oversee a vast network of approximately 3,500 temples
and more than 12,000 monks affiliated with the Jogie system throughout South Korea.
His new four-year term is scheduled to officially begin on September 28,
following the completion of procedures and formal confirmation by the sect’s council of elders.
Cultural openness and community initiatives
This new leadership comes at a time when the Jogi sect is actively strengthening its community and international presence.
It plans to launch special discounts on its temple stay programs for foreigners next month.
Furthermore, it continues its efforts to promote traditional Korean culture and cuisine
at international events, such as the UNESCO World Heritage meetings in Busan.
The sect is also keen to keep pace with the digital and technological age.
This is evident in unconventional steps such as welcoming the humanoid robot “Gabi” to its official ceremonies.
There are also growing signs of increasing interest in its cultural and tourism stay programs among non-Buddhists.
