Korean New Religions

Korea has given birth to numerous new religions which reveal much about distinctive characteristics of Korean history and culture.

Reflecting South Korea's religious diversity, some of the new religions have Buddhist roots, some have Christian origins, some draw on Confucian beliefs and practices, and some have emerged from Indigenous religious traditions such as shamanism. This Element examines the most noticeable of these religions.Korea has an unusually diverse religious culture. In the north, Juche, which has taken on religious overtones, monopolizes articulations of beliefs and values as well as ritual practice. In the south, no single religion dominates, with over half saying that they have no specific religious affiliation. The remainder report being Protestant, Buddhist, and Catholic. Smaller in number but nonetheless noticeable are members of Korea's many home-grown new religious movements. Reflecting South Korea's religious diversity, some of those new religions have Buddhist roots, some have Christian origins, some draw on Confucian beliefs and practices, and some have emerged from Indigenous religious traditions such as shamanism. This Element examines the most noticeable of Korea's new religions to discover what they can tell us about distinctive traits of religion in Korea, and how Koreans have responded to the challenge posed by modernity to their traditional beliefs and values.