Monk Hyemun of Daegu Donghwasa Temple: Radio Column

Monk Hyemun, Director of the Donghwasa Temple Training Center on Palgongsan Mountain in Daegu, highlighted in a current affairs column on Daegu BBS Buddhist Broadcasting's 'Radio Morning World' that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is not merely an issue for the belligerent nations but a matter shaking the global economy as a whole. Borrowing the idiom 'mutual destruction' (同歸於盡, Donggwieojin), which signifies a situation where both sides face ruin in their pursuit of victory, Monk Hyemun defined the nature of the current international dispute. He emphasized the structural risks of international conflict, noting that not only the parties involved but countless ordinary people are exposed to economic damage and fear.

"Korea, being a trade-oriented nation with a high dependency on energy imports, is severely impacted by turmoil in oil-producing countries," Monk Hyemun stated.

Practical strategies at the individual level to counter these energy and trade risks were also proposed. Monk Hyemun pointed to specific measures such as reducing transportation costs and increasing public transit use, refraining from rapid acceleration, optimizing heating and electricity consumption, and appropriately stocking household goods.