Why are so many Koreans Christian?

Question

i've noticed that it is almost impossible to find a korean person that isn't christian. why is that?

Answer 1

its because of the korean war. americans saved the koreans from being taken over by communists and of coarse if your countries about to get owned, your gonna think that the americans a right about thier "god". and now almost EVERY korean is christian and now its turned into a badwagon group. im korean so i would know.

Answer 2

When I first arrived in Korea I was surpised at the number of churches and Christians here. I guess I had assumed Buddhism would be more popular. Numerically, Buddhism is still the dominant religion in Korea, but Christianity is a very close second and rapidly gaining new converts.

"Introduced into Korea in 1784, Christian concepts were known through the Bible and other texts prior to that time by Confucian intellectuals and emissaries who had visited China in the 1700s"

It's interesting that it was brought to Korea by its own people, and not by missionaries.

"The phenominal growth of Christianity during the past few decades can be attributed to a variety of factors: The fall of monarchical government, dissolution of institutional Confucianism, imposition of a colonial power, and weakening of traditional values. Industrialization and Westernization required a different framework from the rigidly structured Confucian system, and Christianity fit the bill. After the disasterous Korean War, and through periods of political, military, and social unrest, Christianity has offered solace, security and hope"

The quote illustrates some of the factors in the rise in popularity in Christianity.

I have also learned, since being here, that for the most part Buddhists are from the middle and lower economic classes, while Christians are from the higher classes. So, people who want to emulate Western success want to emulate it in every way, including religion. Koreans are very group oriented, so belonging to a different religion from everyone else in your office would be uncomfortable and alienating. Also, Koreans think ALL Westerners are Christians, so if they were to emigrate somewhere like America, they would probably want to be a part of the dominant religion.

Answer 3

Animal, for when I accept as true with you. Korean spirituality is rich and significant and proper to Korean way of existence. Christianity is distant places and concern based. The missionaries ought to have achieved a quantity on the Koreans; they offered the hype lock, inventory and barrel. to quote Bob Marley: in case you realize your historic past, then you certainly will understand the place you're coming from. i ask your self what tragic experience brought about Koreans to settle for Christianity in such numbers. Thank the ancestral gods i'm an Asatruar.

Answer 4

Well, I personally don't know but maybe they just like Christianity and strongly have beliefs in God. You can ask someone but I am not sure what they will tell you. Maybe Koreans just like being Christian.

Answer 5

I don't think it's necessarily the case that so many are religious - it's really just a case of demographics..............there's such a large concentration of Koreans in a small area that it appears as if they are a majority in reigion.

Answer 6

They like to imitate the West. Sadly, they even view Christianity as a hip religion rather than a religion where you follow your own calling.

Answer 7

Unfortunately my wife is Korean and a buddhist.

Answer 8

there's a church in seoul that has 5 times for service on sunday, with more than 30,000members.

Answer 9

I don't know if there is any substantiated truth to your claim, but if this is what you have personally experienced, should this not be a good thing?

It would fill my heart with gladness to know that evangelism has spread throughout the Korean peninsula.

Answer 10

Because they have discovered the Truth.

The largest Christian church in the world is in Seoul, R.O.K. It is pastored by David Yonggi Cho.