Religion in South Korea. However, it was only in the subsequent Joseon kingdom (13921910) that Korean Confucianism was established as the state ideology and religion, and Korean Buddhism underwent 500 years of suppression. Religious freedom conditions in North Korea are among the worst in the world. These reformists accepted the new Western civilization and endeavored to establish a Modern Independence government. . In 372 AD King Sosurim (?-384) of the Kingdom of Kogury (37 BC-668 AD) created what may have been the first Confucian university in Korea. In 2010, roughly three-in-ten South Koreans were Christian, including members of the worlds largest Pentecostal church, Yoido Full Gospel Church, in Seoul. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. According to a 1995 social statistics survey, 50.7 percent of Koreans follow a specific religious faith. Confucianism was the moral and religious belief founded by Confucius in the 6th century B.C. Korean shamanism or Korean folk religion, also known as Shinism or Sinism (, ; Shingyo or Shinkyo, "religion of the spirits/gods") or Shindo (; , "way of the spirits/gods"), is the polytheistic and animistic ethnic religion of Korea which dates back to prehistory and consists in the worship of gods ( s h in) and ancestors ( josang) as well as nature . The U.S. government estimates the total population at 51.6 million (midyear 2019 estimate). South Korea is a country that is located in eastern Asia on the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. Taego lineage is a form of Seon (Zen) and it differs from Seon by allowing priests to marry. The east Asian nation of South Korea is a land of gorgeous natural landscapes, with green forests, towering mountains, and ocean beaches.It is also a land of sprawling, modern cities. Korean Confucianism) and suppressed and marginalised Korean Buddhism[31][32] and Korean shamanism. Reprinted by permission. After Japan's defeat in 1945, the United States and the Soviet Union divided the peninsula into two zones of influence. Its population includes a plurality of people with no religious affiliation (46%) and significant shares of Christians (29%) and Buddhists (23%). What Is The Dominant Religion? It has its unique one culture, character, cloth, and food that separate from the countries nearby Korea. As can be seen on the diagram above, 19.7% of the respondents were Christians and 15.5% were believers of Buddhism. Historically, Koreans lived under the influences of shamanism, Buddhism, Daoism or Confucianism and in modern times, the Christian faith has made strong in roads into the country, bringing forth yet another important factor that may change the spiritual landscape of the people. What is the main religion in South Korea? [80][81] is the native religion of the Koreans. Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. Religion in South Korea is diverse. It is officially called the Republic of Korea and its capital and largest city is Seoul. According to the Religious Characteristics of States Dataset Project, in 2015 the population was 70.9 percent atheist, 11 percent Buddhist, 1.7 percent followers of other religions, and 16.5 percent unknown. Chondogyo was initiated as a social and technological movement against rampant competition and foreign encroachment in the 1860s. Protestant Christianity was first briefly introduced to South Korea in 1832 by German Protestant missionary Karl Gutzlaff (1803-1851), but it was the second Protestant missionary to ever visit the country, Welshman Robert Jermani Thomas (1839-1866), who had a lasting impact that still is felt today. By the 18th century, there were several converts among these scholars and their families. [110][111], Hinduism ( Hindugyo) is practiced among South Korea's small Indian, Nepali and Balinese migrant community. In the 1990s and 2000s it continued to grow, but at a slower rate. Religion in South Korea is diverse. Most Roman Catholic Christians fled to South Korea from North Korea and in the decades since the religion has grown. [73][74][75][76][77][56] Consequently, many Korean Christians, especially Protestants, have abandoned these native Korean traditions. According to the 2016 census conducted by the Korea Statistical Information Service, of the 44 percent of the population espousing a religion, 45 percent are Protestant, 35 percent Buddhist, 18 percent Roman Catholic, and 2 percent "other.". Buddhists account for some 46 percent followed by Protestants at 39 percent and Catholics at 13 percent of the religious population. 5The share of Christians in South Korea (29%) is much smaller than the share of Christians among Korean Americans living in the U.S. Nearly three-quarters of Korean Americans (71%) say they are Christian, including 61% who are Protestant and 10% who are Catholic. The scriptures and practices are simplified so that anyone, regardless of their wealth, occupation, or other external living conditions, can understand them. For centuries, Korea combined religious diversity with ethnic unity. [37] The lack of a national religious system compared to those of China and that of Japan (Korean Sindo never developed to a high status of institutional and civic religion) gave a free hand to Christian churches. Korean Confucianism has been making a recovery with young, new scholars and has been trying to reevaluate itself within a global context. 2001 Korean Information Service (KOIS). Buddhism and Confucianism play an influential role in the lives of many South Korean people. [13] Christians who resettled in the south were more than one million. There are 23% Buddhists, 29% Christians, and 2% believe in other cultures. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions. Jogye requires their monastics to be celibate. Protestants, by contrast, have completely abandoned the practice. [82][note 2] Korean mu "shaman" is synonymous with Chinese wu, which denotes priests both male and female. Choe Je-u (1824-1864) founded the Donghak Movement. However, they differentiate themselves from many other nations because of how well people of all belief systems coexist peacefully. Buddhism is a highly disciplined philosophical religion which emphasizes personal salvation through rebirth in an endless cycle of reincarnation. [52], According to a 2005 government survey, a quarter of South Koreans are practicing Buddhist. According to the survey, new results deviate from the traditional sentiments of South Korean culture. [112], The Jewish existence in South Korea effectively began with the dawn of the Korean War in 1950. Buddhism was first introduced to Korea from China in 372 AD during Korea's Three Kingdoms Period, which lasted from 57 BC until 667 AD. [55] However, the actual number of Buddhists in South Korea is ambiguous as there is no exact or exclusive criterion by which Buddhists can be identified, unlike the Christian population. [34] It was in this critical period that they came into contact with Western Christian missionaries who offered a solution to the plight of Koreans. What Is The Difference Between Catholic And Christian? Throughout the ages, there have been various popular religious traditions practiced on the Korean peninsula. During the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945) the Japanese uplifted the position that Buddhism had in Korea. An overview of religious influence on Korean art throughout history. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. There are also small Eastern Orthodox communities. Man was also believed to have a soul that never dies. Here are sixfacts about Christianity in South Korea: 1South Korea has no majority religious group. The shaman is also believed to resolve conflicts and tensions that might exist between the living and the dead. However, after Ham's death, interest in Quakerism declined. Delve into the profound philosophical significance of the South Korean flag. 6As of 2012, South Korea had low levels of government restrictions on religion and social hostilities toward or among religious groups, based on our most recent analysis. Religion in Korea encompasses Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Daoism and Shamanism as practiced historically in Korea, as well as contemporary North Korea and South Korea. The Three Kingdoms of Kogury, Paekche and Silla all left records that indicate the early existence of Confucian influence. Go to top. The primary religions in South Korea are Christianity and Buddhism, combined comprising of over 50% of the nation, about 46% of the country also. [30], The Joseon kingdom (13921910), adopted an especially strict version of Neo-Confucianism (i.e. According to a 2015 survey with 1,500 respondents, 56.9% of South Koreans don't have a religious affiliation. Japanese Tenriism ( Cheonligyo) also claims to have thousands of South Korean members. Based on estimates from the late 1990s and the 2000s, North Korea is mostly irreligious, with the main religions being Korean shamanism and Chondoism. It includes three main lines of research: a series of international surveys on religion in various regions; an ongoing demographic study of religion around the world; and an annual coding project that examines restrictions on religion in 198 countries and territories. [3], Religion in South Korea (2015 census)[1][2], According to Pew Research Center (2010), about 46% of the population have no religious affiliation, 23% are Buddhist and 29% are Christians. [34] Christian communities had already existed in Joseon since the 17th century; however, it was only by the 1880s that the government allowed a large number of Western missionaries to enter the country. Alexi Kim, at the start of the Korean War in 1950, and after the St. Nicholas Church building was destroyed by the 1951 bombing of Seoul, the small flock of Orthodox faithful was at risk of annihilation. [1] [6] According to the 2015 census, the proportion of the unaffiliated is higher among the youth, about 69% among the 20-years old.[7]. The rapid pace of industrialization which occurred within a couple of decades compared to a couple of centuries in the West, has brought about considerable anxiety and alienation while disrupting the peace of mind of Koreans, encouraging their pursuit of solace in religious activities. Surveys show that most of South Korea are irreligious, however there are 2 main religions: Buddhism and Christianity. [14] Throughout the second half of the 20th century, the South Korean state enacted measures to further marginalise indigenous Sindo, at the same time strengthening Christianity and a revival of Buddhism. Same as Confucianism, Buddhism teachings have a great impact on Korean lifestyle, culture, and art. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. During the Kingdom of Goryeo Buddhism was the dominant religion but Neo-Confucianism managed to stick around, grow and give rise to new ideas. South Korea is following the trend of many other developed nations in that the number of people are say that they are atheist or unaffiliated with a religious is rising, particularly among young people. Today the Jewish community is very small and limited to the Seoul Capital Area. Religion in Korea encompasses Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Daoism and Shamanism as practiced historically in Korea, as well as contemporary North Korea and South Korea. The vast majority of Buddhists, Christians, practitioners of Confucian rituals, and patrons of shamans and new religions are ethnic Koreans. d) touching is typical. With the division of Korea in 1945, most of the Cheondoist community remained in the north, where the majority of them dwelled. Learn about the political and social changes under Iran's Safavid Dynasty by examining the Book of Kings. The rulers of the succeeding Koryo Dynasty were even more enthusiastic in their support of the religion. At that time, the peninsula was divided into three kingdoms: the aforementioned Goguryeo in the north, Baekje in the southwest, and Silla in the southeast. What percent of South Korea is religious? 1 Hint: It was invented to fit a language that previously used a borrowed writing system. Both holidays are celebrated together with family, with respecting ancestors, certain holiday foods, and family games playing a big part of the day. c) Informal conversation is typical. King Gojong (1852-1919), the second to last emperor of the Joseon Kingdom, even adopted the religion and helped to added Buddhist influences to it to give the religion a formal organizational hierarchy. "[64] The non-Chalcedonian Coptic Church of Alexandria was first established in Seoul in 2013 for Egyptian Copts and Ethiopians residing in South Korea. [39] This was particularly tough under the rule of Park Chung-hee, who was a Buddhist. However, the writings of the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci, who was resident at the imperial court in Beijing, had been already brought to Korea from China in the 17th century. [69], Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church ( Tongilgyo)[70] is a new religious movement founded in South Korea in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon, which has financed many organizations and businesses in news media, education, politics and social activism. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, Under Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals has become less European, Americans Trust in Scientists, Other Groups Declines, Fast facts as Biden meets with Pope Francis, Two-thirds of U.S. Catholics unaware of popes new restrictions on traditional Latin Mass, Americans, including Catholics, continue to have favorable views of Pope Francis, 60% of Americans Would Be Uncomfortable With Provider Relying on AI in Their Own Health Care, Gender pay gap in U.S. hasnt changed much in two decades. [83] Particularly akin to Japan's Shinto, contrariwise to it and to China's religious systems, Korean Sindo never developed into a national religious culture. The first Koreans to be introduced to Islam were those who moved to northeastern China in the early 20th century under Japan's colonial policy. There are more than a hundred "Jeungsan religions," including the now defunct Bocheonism: the largest in Korea is currently Daesun Jinrihoe (), an offshoot of the still existing Taegeukdo (), while Jeungsando () is the most active overseas. [37], During the absorption of Korea into the Japanese Empire (19101945) the already formed link of Christianity with Korean nationalism was strengthened,[11] as the Japanese tried to impose State Shinto, co-opting within it native Korean Sindo, and Christians refused to take part in Shinto rituals. [5] However, both religions have shown a decline between the years 2005 and 2015, with Buddhism sharply declining in influence to 15.5% of the population, and a less significant decline of Christianity to 27.6%.[45]. Which religion is in China? Jeil Presbyterian Church of Suwon, in Gyeonggi Province, by night. Some Catholics were executed during the early 19th century, but the restrictive law was not strictly enforced. During the disputed General Sherman incident that happened in July of 1866, the schooner was sunk by the Koreans and Thomas is alleged to have jumped overboard during the firefight and handed out bibles to angry Koreans watching on shore before one of them executed him. A mosque dispute in a conservative city has forced some South Koreans to confront what it means to live in an increasingly diverse society. [8] Methodist and Presbyterian missionaries were especially successful. Adherents believed that the natural world was filled with both helpful and harmful spirits that could be communicated with by special people, shamans. In 1925,79 Koreans who had been martyred during the Choson Dynasty persecutions were beatified at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, and in 1968 an additional 24 were honored in the same way. Of 101 individuals interviewed, 29 were introduced to religion before elementary school, 18 during elementary, 9 in their 40s, and 7 in their 50s. The study states that 33% of Koreans who are around the age of 20 believe in religion, while above 61% of those aged 60 or older continue to believe in religion. Ritual at a Confucian temple (before 1935). What is the main religion in South Korea? In 2022, around 50 percent of the population in South Korea had no religion, while about 20 percent of . Juche is a full-fledged religion that worships Kim Il Sung as god, and his son, Kim Jong Il as the son of god. [31][32] Buddhism in the contemporary state of South Korea is stronger in the east of the country, namely the Yeongnam and Gangwon regions, as well as in Jeju. Members of the movement mostly opposed the Japanese occupation and played a important rule in the Korean nationalist movement. In 1955, the Orthodox faithful of Korea wrote a letter to the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate asking to come under the Ecumenical Patriarchate's spiritual care and jurisdiction. It is a belief system which originated in north-east Asian and Arctic cultures, and although the term shamanism has since acquired a wider meaning across many different cultures, in ancient Korea it kept its original form where self-appointed practitioners promised to contact and influence the spirit . Some of the major crackdowns on the religion include the Catholic Persecutions of 1801, 1839 and 1866. Religion in South Korea. [29] Buddhism was the dominant religious and cultural influence in the NorthSouth States Period (698926) and subsequent Goryeo (9181392) states. A Christian church on the back of a Jingak Order's Buddhist temple in Ansan , Gyeonggi Province . What are the top 3 religions in South Korea? With the division of Korea into two states in 1945, the communist north and the anti-communist south, the majority of the Korean Christian population that had been until then in the northern half of the peninsula,[12] fled to South Korea. Cheontae is a modern revival of the Tiantai lineage in Korea, focusing on the Lotus Sutra. According to a government survey conducted in 2005, more than 29% of Koreans identified themselves as Christian (18.3% Protestant and 10.9% Roman Catholic), while 22.8% were solidly Buddhist. Modern-day religion in South Korea Although Buddhism and Confucianism remain large religions in the modern society of Korea today, with various different factions of Buddhism being practiced among the South Korean Buddhists, there is another big religion present as well. [15] According to scholars, South Korean censuses do not count believers in indigenous Sindo and underestimate the number of adherents of Sindo sects. TheRoman Catholic Church in Korea celebrated its bicentennial with a visit to Seoul by Pope John Paul II and the canonization of 93 Korean and 10 French missionary martyrs in 1984. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. All of them have also had a large cultural influence in Korea and impacted Korean society as a whole, beyond religious beliefs. More than eight-in-ten South Koreans (86%) said they have a favorable opinion of the pope, higher than the share of Americans (66%) who had a favorable view of him in February. Shamanism represents Korea's first religion, the religion of Dangun, the mythical founder of Korea in 2333 B.C.E.. South Korea makes up about 45 percent of the peninsula's land area. Families following Confucius and his teachings firmly believe that the father must take care of the health, shelter, food and marriage of his family members. b) Expect direct eye contact. [10] During Japanese colonisation in the first half of the 20th century, the identification of Christianity with Korean nationalism was further strengthened,[11] as the Japanese tried to combine native Sindo with their State Shinto. [citation needed], Jingak Order, is a modern esoteric form of Vajrayana Buddhism, which also permits its priests to marry. Religious affiliation by year (19502015), Protestant attacks on traditional religions, Growth: Number of temples by denomination, Buddhism's syncretic influence on Korea culture, South Korea National Statistical Office's 19th Population and Housing Census (2015): ", According to figures compiled by the South Korean, Baker, Donald. [38] Only few thousands of them remain in South Korea today. Shamanism was widely practised in Korea from prehistoric times right up to the modern era. In response to the rapidly changing demographics of religion in South Korea, (Yeolon Sog-ui Yeolon) a Korean research journal, performed a survey on the present religious demographic in South Korea. In 1903, the first Eastern Orthodox church in Korea was established. Those are Confucianism, Buddhism, and Christianity. Shamanism in Korea has a long and deep history and connection to the peninsula even today in the modern era. Chrisanity is the largest religion in South Korea and 27.6% of the population were Christians (19.7% identified themselves as Protestants, 7.9% as Roman Catholics) Among Christian . South Korea. the ban on syncretic traditions was lifted by the Pope,[73] many Korean Catholics openly observe jesa (ancestral rites); the Korean tradition is very different from the institutional religious ancestral worship that is found in China and Japan and can be easily integrated as ancillary to Catholicism. The government formally recognizes five religions: Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam. Essentially, the studies findings show that 50% of South Korean are now non-religious, 32% follow some section of Christianity, 16% are Buddhist, and 2% believe in some other form of religion. In recent decades Korea's Buddhist population has declined due to more Korean's converting to Christianity or becoming atheist or unaffiliated with a religion. The North Korean constitution nominally grants freedom of religious belief, but it also prohibits the use of religion for "drawing in foreign forces or for harming the State." Buddhism was introduced from the Chinese Former Qin state in 372 to the northern Korean state of Goguryeo and developed into distinctive Korean forms. However, Hindu traditions such as yoga and Vedanta have attracted interest among younger South Koreans. Historically the religion has played a role in protecting people from attacks by evil spirits and helping to assist people to achieve health, peace and spiritual well being. [101], Apart from Cheondoism, other sects based on indigenous religion were founded between the end of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century. Previous to this sudden change, A Cohort Analysis of Religious Population Change in Korea[48] launched by the Korean Citation Index analyzed Korean religious demographics from 1999 to 2015. In 1996 only about five percent of Korea's high schools were coeducational. [100] Choe Je-u founded Cheondoism after having been allegedly healed from illness by an experience of Sangje or Haneullim, the god of the universal Heaven in traditional shamanism.[100]. According to Kim, this is the outcome of foreign invasions, as well as conflicting views regarding social and political issues. With the fall of the Joseon in the last decades of the 19th century, Koreans largely embraced Christianity, since the monarchy itself and the intellectuals looked to Western models to modernise the country and endorsed the work of Catholic and Protestant missionaries. With the division of Korea into two states after 1945, the communist north and the capitalist south, the majority of the Korean Christian population that had been until then in the northern half of the peninsula,[12] fled to South Korea. Hundreds of Japanese Shinto shrines were built throughout the peninsula. [34] The intelligentsia was looking for solutions to invigorate and transform the nation. Most recently, South Korea has been in the news due to growing conflicts between it and its northern neighbor, North Korea. "The Transformation of Confucianism in 20th-century Korea: How it has lost most of its metaphysical underpinnings and survives today primarily as ethical rhetoric and heritage rituals", Koh, Byong-ik. They lead a family oriented life where the father is the head of the family. [87] The mu are mythically described as descendants of the "Heavenly King", son of the "Holy Mother [of the Heavenly King]", with investiture often passed down through female princely lineage. At that time, it was called Tonghak (Eastern learning) in contrast to Sohak(Western learning). The Chinese people practice Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Catholicism, and Islam. Dog meat is mainly consumed during the summer and by men, who claim that it does wonders for stamina. Buddhism plays an influential role in the lives of many South Korean people. [61] According to 2015 census, Protestants and Catholics numbered 9.6 million and 3.8 million respective. The principle of Chondogyo is Innaechon, which means that man is identical with "Hanulnim," the God of Chondogyo, but man is not the same as God. Buddhism then established the Son sect (Chinese Chan; Japanese Zen) to concentrate on finding universal truth through a life of frugality. After the division of Korea, most shaman priests migrated to South Korea and little is known how many practice the religion in the North today. Other new folk and shamanistic beliefs include Taejonggyo, a religion whose central creed is worshiping Dangun the mythical founder of Korea and Chungsanggyo, which is a religion that focuses on magical practices and the creation of a paradise on Earth. During the 1600s, the Silhak school was formed as a response to the uneven balance of power in Korean society, with many Silhak scholars seeing Christianity as giving their beliefs a ideological basis and many of these scholars followed Catholicism and supported its expansion by the 1790s. Confucianism was also brought to Korea from China in early centuries, and was formulated as Korean Confucianism in Goryeo. The most prominent of these are the annual rites held at the Shrine of Confucius in Seoul. (true of false) In Korea generational ties, or family loyalties, are more important than those of marriage. In addition to other factors, such as economic status and position in a business . 9. [29] Buddhism became much more popular in Silla and even in Baekje (both areas now part of modern South Korea), while in Goguryeo the Korean indigenous religion remained dominant. These groups pursued not only political and educational causes but also awakened social consciousness against superstitious practices and bad habits, while promoting the equality of men and women, elimination of the concubine system, and simplification of ceremonial observances. Main languages: Korean Main religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Won Buddhism, Chondogyo, Islam Minority groups include Chinese and religious minorities. Shamanism represents Korea's first religion, the religion of Dangun, the mythical founder of Korea in 2333 B.C.E.. Cheondoists, who were concentrated in the north like Christians, remained there after the partition,[38] and South Korea now has no more than few thousands Cheondoists. The shaman is considered capable of averting bad luck, curing sickness and assuring a propitious passage from this world to the next. Whereas Buddhism enjoys a longer presence in the country, Christianity is the . [16] Otherwise, statistics compiled by the ARDA[17] estimate that as of 2010, 14.7% of South Koreans practice ethnic religion, 14.2% adhere to new movements, and 10.9% practice Confucianism. 31.6% are Christians, 24.2% are Buddhist, and 43.3% are none. In a 2015 interview with the Korean magazine Hip Hop Playa, the rapper discussed his mixtape and briefly revealed his thoughts on religion. [51], Won Buddhism (/ Wonbulgyo) is a modern reformed Buddhism that seeks to make enlightenment possible for everyone and applicable to regular life. PARK was assassinated in 1979, and subsequent . Horace G. Underwood of the same denomination and Methodist Episcopal missionary, Henry G. Appenzeller, came from the United States the next year. The growth of Catholics has occurred across all age groups, among men and women and across all education levels. Diligent and hard work, filial piety, and humbleness are characteristics respected by Koreans. Scholars of the Silhak ("Practical Learning") were attracted to Catholic doctrines, and this was a key factor for the spread of the Catholic faith in the 1790s.[60]. A substantial number of South Koreans have no religion. Religion is a part of South Korean life, but you can't ask one's religious affiliation during your first meeting. The deviation from the traditionally religious South Korea culture and demographics, is the rise of Atheists. [57][58], Foreign Roman Catholic missionaries did not arrive in Korea until 1794, a decade after the return of Yi Sung-hun, a diplomat who was the first baptised Korean in Beijing. The religion has played a key role since Korean civilization developed back during the early, mythical part of the founding of Korea's first kingdom of Gojoseon by Dangun Wanggeom in 2333 BC. Buddhism and Christianity are the dominant confessions among those who affiliate with a formal religion. Top 10 Alcohol Consuming Countries In The World, The Biggest Heists and Bank Robberies in American History. Published by L. Yoon , Feb 15, 2023. From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia [33], In the late 19th century, the Joseon state was politically and culturally collapsing. A slight majority of South Koreans have no religion. The data from the study focused on understanding religious conversion, switching, or abandonment within the demographic. Quaker thought briefly attracted a national following in the late 20th century, due to the efforts of Ham Seok-heon.

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