SEOUL, Apr. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism has announced plans to help gambling addicts through temple stays.
According to the Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, a group under the Jogye Order, Heungguksa Temple signed a business agreement with the northern Gyeonggi branch of the Korea Center on Gambling Problems last Sunday.
Similar agreements were signed on Tuesday between Gwaneumsa Temple in Jeju and the Jeju branch, as well as Jeju’s addiction control support center.
“Through the business agreement, we hope to expand our temple stay programs for public interest, fighting alcohol and gambling addiction and help change local communities for the better,” said a representative of Gwaneumsa Temple.
Gambling has emerged as a growing issue among young South Koreans, with nearly 1 in 5 university students suffering from gambling-related issues, according to a report from the Korea Center on Gambling Problems last year.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)