Religions in South Korea

A wide variety of religions coexist in Corée du Sud. Recently emerged faiths such as Protestantism are strongly represented, but traditional religions remain deeply woven into Korean culture today.

The South Korean constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and indeed, the world's major faiths are represented in the country. The oldest are shamanism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. They still have a substantial following. These religions are intimately connected to traditions that remain close to the hearts of most Koreans, regardless of their personal religious beliefs.

Christianity in South Korea

Christianity arrived in Corée du Sud around the late 18th century, but until the early 20th century, Christians experienced considerable persecution.

It was only in the late 1950s that the faith experienced remarkable growth, driven by the arrival of numerous foreign missionaries who came to assist the country devastated by war. A large proportion of these missionaries were Protestant, which likely explains the high proportion of Korean Protestants today.

Today, 50% of Koreans declare faith in a specific religion. Protestants represent nearly 40%, Catholics 13%. Among all practicing Koreans, just under half still adhere to traditional religions. 45% of these believers are Buddhist and less than 1% are Confucianist. Other minority religions are represented in Corée du Sud as well. For example, there is a Muslim community with approximately 40,000 adherents.

Shamanism in South Korea

Shamanism, a very ancient worship of spirits or nature, remains profoundly rooted in Korean society. For some Koreans it is still connected to various superstitions, but for others, it is primarily a picturesque element of Korean culture.