Religious beliefs in Korea, Republic of

Religion in South Korea is prevailed by the traditional Buddhist religion and a large but decreasing Christian population. The exercise of some of these religions has been powerfully influenced by the bearing legacies of Korean Confucianism, which made up the official political theory of Joseon Dynasty, and Korean shamanism, the indigene faith of the Korean Peninsula.

Based on statistics collected by the South Korean administration, about 46.5% of the country‘s population convey no spiritual preference, 29.3% are Christian (18.3% Protestants and 10.9% Catholics), 22.8% are Buddhist, and the remaining binds to several new religious trends including Cheondoism, Confucianism, Daesunism, Jeungism, Taoism, and Wonbuddhism.

A small nonage of Koreans also practices Islam. Large urbanite areas have the highest ratios of people belonging to schematic religious groups: 49.9% in Seoul, 46.1% for Busan, and 45.8% for Daegu. South Korea ranks 3rd in East Asia or Southeast Asia in terms Christian population, next to East Timor and Philippines. The largest house of worship is the Seoul Central Mosque settled in Itaewon. Small houses of worship are located in most of the South Korea’s major metropolises.

Primarily the Indian community practices orthodox Hinduism. Hindu exercises like yoga and Vedic rules have permeated the social stratification in South Korea as intends to achieve a better standard of life. Judaism is also a religion in the country, the origin of which can be retraced back to the Jewish soldiers who are part of the Korean War.