Goods featuring "Vandalsanim" and "Vandal-dongjasanim," which are Asiatic black bear characters dressed in Buddhist monk attire, have been enjoying popular sales, with their proceeds creating a research fund for temple forests.

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism announced on October 6 that it will hold a "Korea National Park Service & Golden Bear Temple Forest Research Fund Delivery Ceremony" at the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on October 8.

Vandalsanim and Vandal-dongjasanim are created by dressing "Bandali," the representative character of the Korea National Park Service, in Buddhist clerical robes and child monk attire. They were produced through a collaboration between the Jogye Order, the National Park Service, and the merchandise manufacturer Golden Bear.

The items were sold at national park souvenir shops, Jogyesa Temple, and Bongeunsa Temple from November of last year to September of this year, ranking first and second in sales among the National Park Service's character merchandise this year.

A total of 18,500 items were sold, creating a fund of 18.5 million won at 1,000 won per item. This fund is planned to be used for researching the ecological and cultural values of temple forests within national parks and their response to climate change.

Regarding the creation of this fund, the Jogye Order stated, "This is the fruit of cooperation where a public institution, a religious order, and a private enterprise united their intentions to elevate the value of natural heritage and return its meaning back to society," adding, "We will continue our cooperation for the sustainable preservation and spread of the value of temple forests moving forward."

(Photo provided by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Yonhap News)