The race for the leadership of the country’s largest Buddhist order has intensified with the incumbent chief slamming the current election system.

Ven. Jaseung, the current leader of the Jogye Order, on Monday said he did not support the current election system.

“I think the leaders should be recommended for the position by a unanimous recommendation,” he said as he announced his platform in Seoul. “But if that is not feasible in real life, I think we should adopt a direct election system, where every Buddhist member could participate with his or her own ballot,” he said, arguing that the current indirect system with 321 electoral college members representing more than 14,000 Buddhist monks was not suitable. 

The chief monk registered his candidacy on Sept. 18, seeking a second term. He will be competing with four other candidates in the Oct. 10 election.

Ven. Jaseung announced a set of pledges for a second four-year term including administration across factions, enhancing the rights of bhikkuni (female Buddhist monks), improving the environment for meditation, and extending the welfare system for monks, among other issues.

Ven. Jaseung is said to have systemized much of the Jogye administration and is also credited with speaking out on controversial social issues such as workers’ protests against massive layoff plans at Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction, Ssangyong Motor and others.

His strongest rival is Ven. Boseon, who has focused on meditation and self-discipline and the ethical value of Buddhism.

The prominent monk on Monday criticized Ven. Jaseung, who had pledged not to seek a second term after a scandal broke last year involving high-ranking Buddhist monks and illegal gambling.

“We hoped that Ven. Jaseung would take responsibility for what he has said and listen to the people’s voices denouncing him,” Ven. Boseon said, adding that if he were elected the chief, he would lead the early morning meditation with ordinary Buddhist followers and earn respect from them.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)