Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Ju-ho said on the 5th, "The mindset of 'I and others are not two but one' (자타불이) is needed now more than ever."
The Deputy Prime Minister mentioned this during the congratulatory speech at a ceremony held at Jogyesa Temple in Seoul on Buddha's Birthday, stating, "We must rebuild our collapsed community with the power of a strong solidarity that cares for each other and shares pain."
He emphasized, "Amidst the severe flow of history, the compassion and teachings of coexistence of the Buddha have been a light that illuminates the path our society must take," and he noted, "We must follow the spirit of 'harmony and reconciliation' (화쟁) and 'complete and mutual harmony' (원융화합) to pave the way for integration and coexistence."
The Deputy Prime Minister stated, "The government will do its utmost in governance so that the lives of the citizens who do their best in their positions can become more prosperous, even in difficult circumstances," and added, "We will embrace marginalized neighbors and alleviate inequality and polarization to open an era of sustainable growth."
Regarding the recent damage caused by wildfires, he said, "We will strive to ensure that citizens suffering from disasters can quickly restore their daily lives and will not neglect the recovery of traditional temples and national heritage, which have been a great source of pride for our nation."
The congratulatory slogan for this year is "Peace in the world, compassion in the heart." The Deputy Prime Minister stated that this slogan is "the value and attitude of life we should aim for today," and he promised, "The government will do its best to support the spirit of compassion, sharing, and respect for life that the Buddhist community has practiced to take root deeply throughout our society."
He continued, "I hope that small considerations come together to add peace to the world and that the warm heart of compassion widely illuminates our neighbors, opening a path to live together more broadly. I sincerely pray that the Buddha's light of compassion will spread evenly over all living beings in this world."