Reaching North Korea through Buddhism: An Overview of South-North Buddhist Exchange .......... 75

This study examines the engagement of South Korean Buddhist Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in fostering inter-Korean relations and promoting Korean unification. It highlights the activities of organizations like Buddhist Association for a Peaceful Unification founded in 1992 under the Chogye Order and Good Friends, established in 1996 under the Chŏngt’o Society, modern Buddhist lay movement. The paper argues that South Korean Buddhist NGOs played a significant role in cultural and economic exchange with North Korea, influencing the position and practices of Buddhism in North Korea, however, at relatively high costs. Despite the currently hostile relationship between the governments of both countries, South Korean Buddhist NGOs can still present a potential avenue for inter-Korean exchange in the future, although the question remains whether more favorable model of cooperation for both sides can be developed.