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SEOUL: South Korea will not allow a visit by the Dalai Lama this year, foreign ministry spokesman Lee Nam-Soo said in a statement.
President Kim Dae-Jung has resisted a visit by Tibet's spiritual leader in the past, but after winning the Nobel Peace Prize this month, he told local media the idea was under consideration.
The Buddhist leader won the same award in 1989 for his non-violent campaign to free his homeland from Chinese rule imposed in 1950.
''It is not desirable to allow the Dalai Lama to visit Seoul this year because of various situations,'' the ministry spokesman said on Monday. He did not elaborate.
''We will review the idea next year if an application for such a visit is made,'' he said.
Visits by the Dalai Lama pose a challenge for governments around the world as China sternly opposes his travels.
Organisers of a world summit of religious leaders held at the United Nations in New York in September excluded the Dalai Lama after members of China's delegation said he was a ''troublemaker'' who must be kept away.
The United States and others criticised organisers of the Millennium World Peace Summit of religious and spiritual leaders for the move.
A group of religious activists held a rally in downtown Seoul on Sunday to press the government to allow the visit.
A committee hoping to bring the Dalai Lama to South Korea had flown to India to deliver a letter of invitation in June.
Its plans had called for a one-week visit beginning November 17.
President Kim won this year's Nobel
Peace Prize on October 13 for his drive for democracy at home and closer
ties with Stalinist North Korea. (Reuters)
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