Richard Gere visits Buddhist temple in South Korea

The Associated Press, Tuesday, Jun. 21, 2011

<< U.S. actor Richard Gere, center, watches his son Homer, right, shake hands with a head monk of Chogye Order Ja Seung, left, beside his wife Carey Lowell at the Korean Buddhism's Chogye Order in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 21, 2011 .Gere is on a six-day visit in the county to promote his photo exhibition and tour Buddhist temples. Lee Jin-man/AP Photo

SEOUL, South Korea -- Richard Gere is visiting a Buddhist temple in Seoul where he received gifts of prayer beads, ceremonial clothing and porcelain incense burners.

The practicing Buddhist said Tuesday at Jogye Temple that he appreciates Korean Buddhism's traditions and wants them to stay strong.

Gere is in Seoul promoting an exhibition of photographs of Tibet and India taken by the Hollywood actor and other photographers.

Gere is a longtime activist for Tibet, the Dalai Lama and Tibetan exiles.

His films include "Pretty Woman," "Unfaithful" and "Chicago" for which he won a Golden Globe.