Seoul: Ven. Jinwoo, the current leader of the Jogye Order, was elected as the leader of South Korea's biggest Buddhist sect for another term Thursday. Jinwoo secured 57 percent of the vote, defeating Ven. Gyeongwoo, who garnered 43 percent of the ballot.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Jinwoo is making history as the second leader within the Jogye Order to be re-elected for a second term, following in the footsteps of Ven. Jaseung, who was re-elected in 2013. In his acceptance speech, Jinwoo expressed his commitment to advancing Korean Buddhism into a new era, promising to embrace all participants of the election and focus on stabilizing the order. He emphasized the importance of making Buddhism more appealing to younger generations.

As the head of the Jogye Order, the largest Buddhist sect in the country, Jinwoo will oversee approximately 3,500 temples and 12,000 monks nationwide. His new four-year term is scheduled to begin on September 28, pending approval from the elders assembly of the order.