Religion in Korea - Religion in South Korea

Religion in South Korea

Just over 53 percent of South Koreans profess religious affiliation. That affiliation is spread primarily among three traditions - Buddhism (22.8 percent), Protestantism (18.3 percent), and Catholicism (10.9 percent). The cultural impact of these movements is far more widespread than the number of formal adherents suggests. A variety of "new religions" have emerged since the mid-19th century, including Cheondoism and the Unification Church. Very small Muslim and Bahá'í minorities also exist due to the emigration of South Asians.

While there is a clear distinction between religious adherents and nonbelievers with the Christian population, there is much ambiguity in statistics for religion in South Korea. This is primarily due to the fact that there is no exact or exclusive criterion by which Buddhists can be identified. The lineage of refuge, a commitment that distinguishes between Buddhists and non-Buddhists, has disintegrated in Korea. With Buddhism's incorporation into traditional Korean culture, it is now considered a philosophy and cultural background rather than a formal religion. As a result, many people outside of formal groups are deeply influenced by these traditions. Moreover, it is not uncommon for non-practicing Koreans to pray at Buddhist temples, participate in Confucian ancestor rites, and even consult a shaman and sponsor a kut. As a result, when factoring in the number of individuals influenced by these philosophies, a much higher number of South Koreans are considered to be Buddhist influenced by Confucian principles. Religion in South Korea is further complexed by the integration of Buddhist and Confucian customs among Catholics, chiefly through the practice of ancestor worship and observance of some principles.