Korean Beliefs
A brief overview of Korea's religious history.
The Folk Religion of Korea
South Korea is a nation of many religions, each playing its own role in the history of the peninsula. The original folk religion of Korea, sometimes called Muism, has its roots in the ancient past. Its major deity is Hwanin, Sangje, or Cheon, a supreme heavenly father and the source of all things. His son Hwanung descended from heaven to live on a holy mountain near a sandalwood tree. There, he created humanity by testing the patience of a bear, who became the first woman. Their child, Dangun, is the mythic founder of Choson or Korea. These divine beings inhabit a world populated by spirits and other minor deities. Living in harmony with those spirits is the major goal of Korean Shamanism. The shaman role has typically been occupied by women, or mudang, who undergo a spiritual crisis in their youth. Male shamans, or baksu, are less common.
Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in Korea
Shamanism is Korea’s oldest religion and is still practiced by many today. As other faiths such as Buddhism and Taoism gained popularity, they grew alongside it. Buddhist temples perched on top of mountains shared space with shrines to San-shin mountain spirits. Buddhism became the state religion of the Goryeo dynasty during the 10th century. Their monasteries grew wealthy and powerful, even interfering in political affairs. As a consequence, they faced a backlash in the early Joseon dynasty. Joseon rulers preferred Confucian doctrine, though they still allowed the practice of Buddhism. Confucianism, besides its use as a state philosophy, teaches veneration for family and ancestors. Families give offerings and prayers to ancestors enshrined in spirit tablets as part of jesa ceremonies. This custom is still upheld when it does not clash with other religious beliefs.
Christianity and Other Religions in Modern Korea
The latest major religion of Korea is Christianity. Catholicism entered the Joseon dynasty in the 18th century to a hostile reception. Banned, persecuted, and occasionally massacred, Korean Christians did not find religious tolerance until the late 19th century. At this time, Protestant American missionaries gained access to the country. They recognized Korea’s thirst for education, building hundreds of schools and universities. After Japanese occupation and the Korean War, the Christian presence in South Korea grew more pronounced. Protestantism is now its most popular religion, followed by Buddhism and Catholicism. Over half of its population, however, profess no religion. North Korea purged the majority of its Christian citizens following the Korean War. The state tolerates Shamanism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, though it favors no faith in particular.
References
Clark, Donald N. Culture and Customs of Korea. Greenwood Press. 2000.
Hwang, Kyung Moon. A History of Korea. Macmillan International Higher Education. 2016.
Kim, Djun Kil. The History of Korea. 2nd ed. Greenwood Press. 2014.
Ku, Yangmo, Inyeop Lee, and Jongseok Woo. Politics in North and South Korea. Routledge. 2017.
“The World Factbook: KOREA, NORTH.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 18 June 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/kn.html.
“The World Factbook: Korea, South.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 20 June 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html.
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