Second Academic Awards Presented by Korean Buddhist Studies Association, Winners Named Park Jin-young and Lee Bok-hee

The Korean Buddhist Studies Association announced the recipients of its second academic awards. Park Jin-young, who is pursuing a doctoral degree in Seon studies at Dongguk University’s graduate school, received the Excellence Award, while Lee Bok-hee, a doctoral graduate from Dongguk University’s Seon studies program, earned the Encouragement Award.

Park Jin-young’s award-winning paper is titled “Baekpa Was Not Lonely – Supporters of the Three Types of Zen in Late Joseon.” This study systematically identifies and analyzes figures who supported Baekpa Geung-seon’s perspective on the three types of Zen during the intense Seon debates that shaped 19th-century Joseon Buddhism. It is praised for offering a fresh insight into the landscape of Seon philosophy debates in late Joseon.

Park Jin-young graduated from Dongguk University’s Department of Buddhist Studies, obtained a master’s degree in Seon studies, and is currently in doctoral studies. As an emerging researcher who has published seven papers in major academic journals such as the Korean Journal of Seon Studies and the Korean Buddhist Studies Association Journal, she previously received the Encouragement Award at the 8th Seongun Academic Awards in 2025. She also serves as the finance secretary for the Korean Journal of Seon Studies.

Lee Bok-hee’s award-winning paper is titled “The Spirit of Questioning in Zen – Focusing on the Jikji Simcheyojeol.” This research re-examines the ideological significance of Zen Buddhism’s tradition of questioning from a modern perspective, using the Jikji Simcheyojeol, the world’s oldest existing metal-type printed book.

Lee Bok-hee graduated from Pusan National University’s Department of Linguistics and then studied Pali at the Buddhist Studies Center at Oxford University and Tibetan at its Tibetan Center. She has been active in both academic and practical fields, including working as a lecturer at Geumgang Seonwon, planning and managing school meditation programs, and winning a scholarship to present a poster at the International Conference on Science of Meditation (ISCR) held in Italy in 2024.

These academic awards were established under the theme “Talking About Buddhism in East Asia.” Papers were solicited from researchers in Korean Buddhist studies between December last year and February this year. The evaluation process followed the review standards of the Korean Buddhist Studies Association Journal and was conducted anonymously by three reviewers. No grand prize winner was selected this time.

The award ceremony will take place alongside the spring academic conference of the Korean Buddhist Studies Association (presided over by Master Jahyeon, a professor at Jungang Sungsaga University), which is held on April 24 at 2 p.m. in the Hakmyeong Seminar Room on the second floor of Dongguk University’s Cultural Center in Seoul. The ceremony will be moderated by Master Mujin, with the award presentation starting at 2:14 p.m. immediately after the opening remarks, followed by Master Jahyeon’s keynote lecture and presentations of the award-winning papers.