Ven. Jinwoo has been elected as the 38th chief executive of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the largest Buddhist denomination in South Korea.

Having served as the 37th chief executive, Ven. Jinwoo becomes the first chief executive to secure a consecutive second term in 13 years, following the late Ven. Ja-seung.

In the indirect election held at the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Ven. Jinwoo secured 183 votes, or 57 percent of the 321 eligible electors.

His opponent, Ven. Gyeong-u, former abbot of Seonunsa Temple, received 138 votes, or 43 percent.

Following the approval of the Council of Great Masters of the Jogye Order tomorrow (the 4th), Ven. Jinwoo will begin his second four-year term on the 28th.

Born in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Ven. Jinwoo entered the priesthood under Ven. Baek-un, receiving the novice ordination (sami-gye) in 1978 and the full ordination (gujok-gye) in 1998.

After serving as abbot of Yongheungsa Temple in Damyang, South Jeolla Province, he was appointed abbot of Baekyangsa Temple, the 18th district head temple of the Jogye Order in Jangseong, South Jeolla Province, in 2012.

He took office as the 8th dean of the Education Bureau of the Jogye Order in 2019, serving a three-year term. In 2022, he ran unopposed in the 37th chief executive election after being endorsed by Buddhist Gwangjang, a coalition of major factions within the Central Council, winning by default.

The chief executive of the Jogye Order oversees all general administration and external affairs of the denomination, which encompasses some 3,500 temples and 12,000 monks nationwide.

(Photo: Yonhap News)