Religions Contemp South Korea

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Korea has been considered a kind of religious exception in East Asia as a secular society which includes influential religious communities that amount to about 50% of the total population. Christianity and Buddhism are the two most significant and sizable religious groups. Buddhism came to Korea in the 6th century but has been marginalized under the Joseon dynasty from the 14th to the early 20th century. Its influence on Korean society has been on the decline, but it remains a significant part of Korean culture, in addition to its international impact through figures such as the 20th century Seon/Zen master Seung Sahn Sunim. The course will also focus on the Roman Catholic Church that entered Korea in the 17th century and gathers around 20% of the population, and the more recently introduced Evangelical Churches that have grown to be very influential in contemporary Korea. The autochthonous tradition of Shamanism, the religion of the Mudang or woman shamaness, will also be studied. Finally, we observe the persistence and sometimes growth of specifically Korean new syncretistic religious movements such as Daesoon Jirinhoe. The course will explore the theology, spirituality, and interreligious encounters of these various communities. The visits will comprise one or two nights at a Buddhist monastery, guided visits of the Myeongdong Cathedral and Sogang University, a Jesuit institution, meeting with Evangelical leaders, including the Rev. Lee Young Hoon, leader of the Pentecostal Yoido Full Gospel Church, reportedly the largest Christian congregation in the world, as well as a meeting with the renowned Mudang Kim Keumhwa.