Berkley Center

Upon arriving in Seoul, one of the first things I noticed was the number of churches. Wherever you look in Seoul, giant neon crosses light up the sky. In the late-night, hour-long taxi ride to my dorm from the airport, the only thing that stood out in the dark of the night were the dozens of crosses hoisted up into the skyline. As it turns out, Christianity has a huge presence in Korea. According to a 2010 Pew Research Center report, South Korea is 29 percent Christian, making it the largest religious-affiliated group. Coming to Asia, finding Jesus isn’t the first thing you expect, but after spending the semester in Seoul, I’ve learned that faith is universal.

A common theme I’ve noticed in Korea is that Koreans "go big or go home." This is no different when it comes to religion. I asked another international student about his experience in Korea compared to his experience back in the United States, and he said the atmosphere in Korea is completely different than in the United States. He describes, “There's a sense of urgency here. There's a sense of complacency in the states that I don't see [in Korea].” According to my friend, Koreans seem to take their faith more seriously. Another classmate from Canada agrees with this sentiment. Since coming to Korea, her faith has grown stronger. She describes Korean ministry as more charismatic and open, allowing her to more freely express herself. This enthusiastic attitude is supported by the facts. After the United States, Korea sends the most missionaries internationally. Korea is also known for its megachurches. Yoido Full Gospel Church—based in Seoul—is the world’s largest megachurch, with over 200,000 members.

Maybe Christianity’s young history in the peninsula accounts for the intensity with which it is practiced. Christianity was only introduced in Korea by missionaries in the 1800s, but did not gain ground until the Japanese occupation of Korea between 1911 and 1945. Christianity also peaked during the development period, after the Korean War. During these tumultuous periods, Christian missionaries were a key ally of the Korean people, and as a result of this relationship and Christianity’s link with nationalism and liberation, Christianity gained a significant following. This following has only grown since, and in less than 100 years has become Korea’s largest religious population.

One of Christianity’s key spheres in Korea is education. Historically, their relationship with Koreans is based in the education opportunities brought by missionaries, and this relationship continues to today. Sinchon, a hub of university life, is surrounded by universities founded on Christian principles. I have been approached on the streets around campus three times and asked to join international Bible studies. Young people are a major demographic in the Korean church, and my Canadian classmate contributes this fact to the charismatic and engaging fashion in which services are conducted. She describes North American churches as more traditional, and thinks this identity contributes to the dropping population of young people back home.

In the United States, Christianity is a largely cultural phenomenon, affecting many aspects of life outside of church. Christian holidays are visible to every American, and basic knowledge of the Bible is necessary for succeeding in education, such as for literary analysis in high school. In the United States, Christianity is an inescapable presence, but in Korea, the neon crosses lighting up the sky are the most conspicuous contribution. In Korea, Christian holidays are either not visible or completely commercialized—for example, Christmas has become a couple’s holiday in Korea—with the religious aspect only existing within the Christian community. Korean Christians appear to have a much more focused approach to religion, and despite their large population, Christianity has not become a pervasive part of Korean popular society.

Korean Christianity has a very unique identity and history, and with a growing population of practicing Christians, its presence is unlikely to fade.