Arianna Huffington today launched the latest of her locale-specific news and commentary portals, Huffington Post Korea, in a joint appearance (she called it a moderated “talk concert”) with one of South Korea’s most well-known Buddhist monks, Ven. Pomnyun.
“Pomnyun,” said an article by Huffington’s Korean media partner, the Hankyoreh, “is considered one of the leading intellects in South Korea today, preaching on how to harmonize cultivation with social engagement as chairman of the JungTo Society and the Peace Foundation. In 2002, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, which has been called the ‘Asian Nobel Peace Prize.’ He has also had a major impact at home, with most of his books — including “The Monk’s Wedding Message,” “Class for Mothers,” and “Class for Life” — making the bestseller lists.”
Ven. Pomnyun was the subject of a New York Times profile in 2012, highlighting his efforts to establish one of South Korea’s first relief organizations, Good Friends, for North Koreans fleeing that country’s deprivations, and his ongoing activism on the North Korean people’s behalf.
