Dalai Lama May Be Allowed to Visit Korea
Published: 04 Jan. 2003, 18:57
On April 30, a representative for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that the Dalai Lama would likely be allowed to enter Korea.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lee Jung-bin, strongly hinted at this to his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, last week in China.
"The Buddhist community in Korea opposes the Korean government's policy of denying the Dalai Lama's entrance into the country. Considering the fact that one-third of the Korean people are Buddhists, the government may not have any choice but to agree."
To this, Minister Tang insisted that the Dalai Lama was not a religious leader, but rather, a political leader, and that he should not be allowed into Korea.
The ministry representative responds, "The Korean people believe that the government is bowing to Chinese pressure concerning the Dalai Lama, who has already visited Japan ten times. Blocking the Dalai Lama's visit to Korea also goes against the policies of President Kim Dae-jung."
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lee Jung-bin, strongly hinted at this to his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, last week in China.
"The Buddhist community in Korea opposes the Korean government's policy of denying the Dalai Lama's entrance into the country. Considering the fact that one-third of the Korean people are Buddhists, the government may not have any choice but to agree."
To this, Minister Tang insisted that the Dalai Lama was not a religious leader, but rather, a political leader, and that he should not be allowed into Korea.
The ministry representative responds, "The Korean people believe that the government is bowing to Chinese pressure concerning the Dalai Lama, who has already visited Japan ten times. Blocking the Dalai Lama's visit to Korea also goes against the policies of President Kim Dae-jung."
by Lee Chul-hee
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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