A Buddhist monk, known for his social activism and considered a “mentor” to potential presidential hopeful Ahn Cheol-soo, will deliver a special lecture at the presidential office this week, officials said Monday.

Ven. Pomnyun, who has long worked as head of a Seoul-based North Korea aid group, has been in the political and media spotlight in recent months after it became known that he is close to Ahn, a public favorite in next year’s presidential election. The media calls him a political mentor to Ahn.

The monk has also spoken up on social and political issues in what is dubbed a “talk concert” for young people, sometimes criticizing President Lee Myung-bak and his policies. That and his closeness to Ahn are why his lecture at the presidential office, set for Wednesday, is drawing attention.

The speech was organized as part of a year-end event for presidential staff and their family members with no political considerations, officials said. The monk will talk about jobs for young adults, college tuition, temporary workers, housing, inflation and other matters, they said.

Ahn, a former doctor who founded South Korea’s largest anti-virus software firm, saw his popularity soaring after suggesting a run for Seoul mayor earlier this year. Though Ahn later withdrew his mayoral bid, he remained hugely popular, especially among young voters.

Ahn has already overtaken the ruling camp’s leading presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye and leads in popularity surveys of potential presidential runners, though he has been vague about whether he will seek the top job in the election one year from now.
 

(Yonhap News)