Seoul Transport Map Omits Names of Buddhist Temples Religion Continues to Haunt the Lee Administration Buddhists Protest against Gov't 'Discrimination' Gov't Cannot Afford to Alienate Buddhists Buddhists Rally Against Gov't 'Religious Bias' Buddhists Keep Up Pressure Over Religious Bias Religious Misunderstandings Must Be Resolved Police Chief to Keep His Job Lee to Apologize for Religious Bias Tuesday Lee Apologizes for Civil Servants' Religious Bias

The abbot reportedly insisted President Lee Myung-bak will express regret and apologize at a Cabinet meeting. “Politics is just like broiling fish,” he was quoted as saying. “You need to turn it over often and watch it carefully."

In the afternoon, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yu In-chon met with Ven. Jigwan behind closed doors. Yu said, "The President is reviewing the situation and receiving briefings on the government's steps against religious bias. He has also instructed the government to implement the policies smoothly." Jigwan said the problem was with the religious bias of some public servants, “but it seems that Cheong Wa Dae is not fully aware of its seriousness."

Lawmakers from the ruling Grand National Party (above) and the main opposition Democratic Party, who are members of the National Assembly Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee, visit the Ven. Jigwan, executive chief of the Jogye Order separately an hour apart on Thursday.

A senior GNP official said, "We're fine-tuning the wording of President Lee's expression of regret.” Referring to a Buddhist demand for immunity for some figures wanted by police for their involvement in anti-U.S. beef protests who have been camped out at the Jogye Temple, he said this was difficult “in principle” but added, “We're looking for ways that can convince Buddhist circles."

The GNP has already begun work on a draft bill on the prevention of religious bias among public servants. The most difficult issue is whether to accept Buddhist demands for the dismissal of Police Commissioner Eo Cheong-soo, who posed for a poster advertising an evangelizing event. Some GNP officials expressed cautious hope that the demand will go away if Lee displays sincere determination to prevent religious bias.

Lee, a devout evangelical Christian, remains reserved on the matter. A Cheong Wa Dae official said the president “is concerned that he might make a mess of it if he acts in haste at a time when the atmosphere is not ripe.” He added no decision has been made yet when Lee will express his views on the Buddhist demands, whether in a TV talk show on Tuesday next week or at another time.

(englishnews@chosun.com )