annual report

Chronology

 

February 20, 1922
Born in Bongsan, Hwanghae Province (present-day North Korea)

1941-1943
Completed pre-graduate studies at Keijō Imperial University

1943-1944
Studied in the Faculty of Law and Literature, Keijō Imperial University, majoring in Asian History, discontinued due to Japanese military conscription

1951-1953
Worked as a deputy editor in compiling the Korean war history in the Ministry of Natinal Defence

1952-1954
Teacher, Hyosung Girls’ High School, Daegu

1954-1960
Moved to Europe and studied at the Université Catholique de Louvain (History and Philosophy) in Belgium and the Université de Paris (Sorbonne)

1960
Returned to Korea after receiving a doctorate in philosophy at Louvain with a thesis titled Aux origines du Tchan Houei (懺悔), Aspects bouddhiques de la pratique penitntielle (The origins of penitence in Buddhism: Buddhist aspects of the penitence practice).

1960-1969
Lecturer, full-time lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor at Dongguk University. Also served as the chair of the Department of Indian Philosophy, the dean of the School of Liberal Arts, and the dean of the College of Buddhist Studies. In addition, lectured on religious studies, Buddhist studies, and anthropology at Seoul National University, religious studies at Sogang University, and art history at Hongik University.

1967
Published Wonhyo sasang (Wonhyo's Thought), which won the 1968 Seoul Cultural Award and was introduced overseas in 1970 as one of the "ten great Korean books in the twenty-five years since liberation" by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO.

1969-1972
Professor, Yeungnam University, the director of the Institute of Silla and Gaya Cultures, and the dean of Liberal Arts

1970
Taught as a Fulbright scholar on Korean Buddhism at La Salle University in Philadelphia and Wake Forest University in North Carolina

1972-1972
President, Kookmin University

April 1974
Founded the Korean Institute for Buddhist Studies. Since then, held numerous lectures and academic events, including the "Introductory Buddhism Course" and "Buddhism Practice Course" and published a number of academic books such as 18 volumes in the Hanguk ui sachal (Buddhist Temples in Korea) series.

1974
Reinstated as professor of Indian philosophy at Dongguk University

1978-1981
Dispatched for work at the Academy of Korean Studies. Laid the foundation for the publication of the Hanguk minjok muhwa daebaekgwa sajeon (Grand Encyclopedia of Korean Culture) as the first head of the Compilation Department.

1981-1996
Trustee in the board of the Korean Buddhism Promotion Foundation

1982
Published the Hanguk bulgyo yeongu (Study of Korean Buddhism) on his sixtieth birthday.

1984
Received the National Merit Magnolia Medal

1987
Retirement from Dongguk University

1987-1990
Continued to teach as a meritorious professor at the Gyeongju campus of Dongguk University and served as the director of the Institute of Silla Culture.

1988
Founded the Wonhyo Academy within KIBS and devoted himself to the systematic education of lay Buddhists

1988
With the incorporation of  KIBS, inaugurated as the chair-cum-director

1989-1996
Director in the board of the Buddhist Broadcasting System

1994
Published Wonhyo sasang yeongu (Study of Wonhyo's Thought)

1995
Received the Inchon Prize

1996
Received the Haseong Scholarly Award

November 9, 1996
Passed away during the international conference “Buddhism and the State” hosted by the KIBS

December 1996
Posthumously awarded the 1st Manhae Prize