11 Facts About Daesun Jinrihoe

Daesun Jinrihoe, which in its English-language publications has recently used the transliteration Daesoonjinrihoe and, from 2017, Daesoon Jinrihoe, is a Korean new religious movement, founded in April 1969 by Park Han-gyeong, known to his followers as Park Wudang .

Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe is the largest among more than one hundred different Korean religious movements constituting the group of new religions known as Jeungsanism and originating from the activities of Kang Jeungsan, believed by his followers to be the incarnated Supreme God.

In 1972, Taegeuk Daesun Jinrihoe was dissolved by its members, who decided to join Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe.

Daesun Jinrihoe descended to the West, from where he moved East and came to Korea, where he stayed for thirty years in the giant Buddha Maitreya statue in the Maitreya Hall of the Geumsansa Temple.

Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe teachings are, in certain parts, similar to Confucianism, including an emphasis on sincerity, reverence, and trust, but Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe diverges from the patriarchy and social hierarchy that characterize Confucianism.

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American scholar Don Baker called it the "quintessential Korean religion", arguing that Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe is "more than the sum of its parts": not Buddhist, not Confucian, not Daoist, not inspired by Cheondoism, and not shamanistic, but all of these together and more.

Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe believes that the principle of Haewon sangsaeng should be realized in practice through three main social activities: charity aid, social welfare, and education.

Every month, the members of Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe make a monetary contribution, which is all sent to the head office.

The movement claims that Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe "is a practical religion which actively puts its doctrines into action, and its activities are more influential and contributive than any other religions in Korea, from the viewpoint of its scale".

Criticism of Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe mostly comes from rival religions in the Kang Jeungsan lineage and Korean media hostile to local new religions in general.

Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe members made a habit of recruiting at large bookstores or in the Seoul underground; these members would ask passers-by if they were interested in Eastern thought and invite them to learn more, without mentioning Daesoon Daesun Jinrihoe.