The ceremony was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho; Vietnamese Consul General in Busan Doan Phuong Lan; Most Venerable Thich Quang Nhuan, a member of the Validation Council of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha; Most Venerable Thich Hai An, Rector of the Viet Nam Buddhist Academy in Hue; Most Venerable So Un, President of the Gwangju Buddhist Association; Most Venerable Do Eon, President of the Cheonan Buddhist Association; representatives of Thai and Cambodian temples in the RoK; along with Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, followers, representatives of community organisations and a large number of Vietnamese residents living in the RoK.
Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Vu Ho emphasised that for Vietnamese people, a pagoda is not only a place for religious and spiritual activities but also a spiritual home where compassion is nurtured, moral values are upheld, and national cultural identity is preserved.
For Vietnamese living far from their homeland, the image of a pagoda, the sound of the temple bell, Buddhist chants and the fragrance of incense always evoke memories of their roots, solidarity and the cherished traditions of the nation.
Expressing appreciation for the dedication, contributions and collective efforts of Buddhist dignitaries, followers, members of the Vietnamese community and Korean friends in establishing Cat Tuong Pagoda, Ambassador Vu Ho affirmed that the pagoda is not merely a religious facility but also a source of spiritual support, a cultural venue and a focal point for strengthening community ties among Vietnamese people in the RoK.
The ambassador stressed that, as the Vietnamese community in the RoK continues to grow, religious solidarity and community harmony are becoming increasingly important.
The presence of representatives from Buddhist organisations in the RoK, Viet Nam, Thailand and Cambodia, together with representatives of the Cao Dai religion, reflected a spirit of interfaith dialogue, religious harmony and community cohesion within the RoK’s multicultural society.
