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Religion in South Korea is diverse. Most South Koreans have no religion. Buddhism and Christianity (Protestantism and Catholicism) are the dominant confessions among those who affiliate with a formal religion. Buddhism, which arrived in Korea in 372 AD, has thousands of temples built across the country.
Apr 25, 2017 · South Korea's modern religious landscape has been shaped by Western, Eastern, folk, and atheist practices alike.
- Gregory Sousa
May 8, 2024 · What are the religions in South Korea? Around more than half of Koreans have no religious affiliation, while the rest profess affiliation to one – or more – of the religions present in South Korean culture today. This means that there’s no dominant religion in the country.
Religion in South Korea has been characterized by a rise of Christianity and a revival of Buddhism, though the majority of South Koreans have no religious affiliation or follow folk religions. Religion in North Korea is characterized by state atheism in which freedom of religion is nonexistent.
- Shamanism. Shamanism is a primitive religion which does not have a systematic structure but permeates into the daily lives of the people through folklore and customs.
- Buddhism. Buddhism is a highly disciplined philosophical religion which emphasizes personal salvation through rebirth in an endless cycle of reincarnation.
- Confucianism. Confucianism was the moral and religious belief founded by Confucius in the 6th century B.C. Basically it is a system of ethical percepts—benevolent love, righteousness, decorum, and wise leadership—designed to inspire and preserve the good management of family and society.
- Catholicism. The tide of Christian mission activity reached Korea in the 17th century, when copies of Catholic missionary Matteo Ricci's works in Chinese were brought from Beijing by the annual tributary mission to the Chinese Emperor.
Religion in Korea encompasses Buddhism, Confucianism, Christianity, Daoism and Shamanism as practiced historically in Korea, as well as contemporary North Korea and South Korea. Shamanism represents Korea's first religion, the religion of Dangun, the mythical founder of Korea in 2333 B.C.E..
In contrast, South Korea today is a multi-religious society. In addition to Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, and Shamanism, there can be found religions of all stripes and colors, thanks in no small part due to the increase in foreigners who now number at more than one million.
