SEOUL--South Korea's leading Buddhist organization said Thursday it was willing to negotiate with authorities over the fate of a wanted labor activist who took sanctuary in one of its temples last weekend. Han Sang-gyun - the head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions - sought sanctuary in the Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul following a massive anti-government demonstration on Saturday. Police have issued an arrest warrant for Han, saying he incited violence during the protest that saw numerous clashes between demonstrators and security forces. Han asked the monks to mediate with the government, and on Thursday a leading member of the Jogye Order, the Venerable Do-Bup, told reporters that they would do so. "We have decided to serve the guest who came to our home, despite some inconveniences," he said. South Korean religious venues have a long history of providing refuge for political activists, most notably in the 1980s when many young pro-democracy activists who were on the run from police sought sanctuary in Catholic churches. Although there is no legal reason preventing police entering such venues, they have traditionally opted not to do so for fear of triggering a public backlash. In 2013, the then Korail Union vice president Park Tae-man and three of his colleagues also took refuge in the Jogye temple - staying there for 20 days before voluntarily surrendering to police.