Irreligion should not be confused with atheism, as a vast majority of Koreans believe in ancestral worship and deities due to the significant influences of Buddhism[a] and Confucianism in the country, similar to many other countries in other parts of Asia.[citation needed] Therefore, with Buddhism and Confucianism incorporation into traditional Korean culture, it is now considered a philosophy and cultural background rather than a formal religion.[citation needed]
As a result, many people outside of the practicing population are deeply influenced by these traditions.[citation needed] Thus, when counting secular believers or those influenced by the faith while not following other religions, the number of Buddhists in South Korea is considered to be much larger.[3][page needed] Similarly, in officially atheist North Korea, while Buddhists officially account for 4.5% of the population, a much larger number (over 80%) of the population are influenced by Buddhist and Confucianist customs and philosophies.[4][failed verification][5][better source needed]
While irreligion makes up about 50% of South Korea's population, only 12% of South Koreans were "convinced atheists.", according to a 2012 Gallup International poll."[6]
Prior to the 20th century, Korean society was Neo-Confucian, and most Koreans were nontheists, who were not concerned with the question of whether or not God existed. Following the division of Korea in the mid-20th century, approximately 88% of South Koreans said they had no religious affiliation in 1964. While religiousness in South Korea experienced a sharp rise in the 20th century, the majority of South Koreans (56%) had no religious affiliation as of 2015 national census.[10][1] According to a 2012 Gallup International poll, 15% of South Koreans said they were "convinced atheists," an increase from 11% in 2005.[6]
According to some experts, contemporary irreligion in South Korea can be partially attributed to South Koreans' distrust of hierarchical organizations like religious groups. Experts also point to South Korea's demanding education and work systems as reasons why few young South Koreans participate in organized religion.[11][12]
^ abcdef"성, 연령 및 종교별 인구 - 시군구" [Population by Gender, Age, and Religion - City/Country]. Korean Statistical Information Service (in Korean). 2015. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
^Quinn, Joseph Peter (2019). "South Korea". In Demy, Timothy J.; Shaw, Jeffrey M. (eds.). Religion and Contemporary Politics: A Global Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 365. ISBN978-1-4408-3933-7. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
^ ab"Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism". WIN-Gallup International. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
^"시도/연령/성별 종교인구" [Population by Cities, Age, Gender, Religion]. Korean Statistical Information Service (in Korean). 1985. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
^"행정구역/성/연령별 종교인구" [Population of Religions by Region, Gender, Age]. Korean Statistical Information Service (in Korean). 1995. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
^"성/연령/종교별 인구 - 시군구" [Population by Gender, Age, and Religion - City/Country]. Korean Statistical Information Service (in Korean). 2005. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
^Baker, Don (2013). "Korea's Path of Secularisation". In Ghosh, Ranjan (ed.). Making Sense of the Secular: Critical Perspectives from Europe to Asia. Routledge. pp. 182–193. ISBN1136277218.
^Strother, Jason (2017-05-08). "The Rise of Café Churches in South Korea". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
^Borowiec, Steven (2017-05-28). "Why young South Koreans are turning away from religion". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
April 28, 2023
irreligion, south, korea, makes, population, saying, they, affiliated, with, religion, 2015, national, census, religion, south, korea, 2015, census, irreligious, protestantism, korean, buddhism, catholicism, other, irreligion, should, confused, with, atheism, . Irreligion in South Korea makes up 56 of the population saying they are not affiliated with a religion as of the 2015 national census 1 Religion in South Korea 2015 census 1 2 Irreligious 56 1 Protestantism 19 7 Korean Buddhism 15 5 Catholicism 7 9 Other 0 8 Irreligion should not be confused with atheism as a vast majority of Koreans believe in ancestral worship and deities due to the significant influences of Buddhism a and Confucianism in the country similar to many other countries in other parts of Asia citation needed Therefore with Buddhism and Confucianism incorporation into traditional Korean culture it is now considered a philosophy and cultural background rather than a formal religion citation needed As a result many people outside of the practicing population are deeply influenced by these traditions citation needed Thus when counting secular believers or those influenced by the faith while not following other religions the number of Buddhists in South Korea is considered to be much larger 3 page needed Similarly in officially atheist North Korea while Buddhists officially account for 4 5 of the population a much larger number over 80 of the population are influenced by Buddhist and Confucianist customs and philosophies 4 failed verification 5 better source needed Contents 1 Classification with Atheism 2 Demographics 2 1 South Koreans with no religious affiliation by year 1985 2015 2 2 South Koreans with no religious affiliation by age 2015 2 3 South Koreans with no religious affiliation by gender 2015 3 History 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesClassification with Atheism EditWhile irreligion makes up about 50 of South Korea s population only 12 of South Koreans were convinced atheists according to a 2012 Gallup International poll 6 Demographics EditMain article Religion in South Korea Demographics South Koreans with no religious affiliation by year 1985 2015 Edit Year Percent People1985 7 57 23 216 3561995 8 49 21 953 3152005 9 46 21 865 1602015 1 56 27 498 715South Koreans with no religious affiliation by age 2015 Edit Age 1 Percent20 29 65 30 39 62 40 49 57 50 59 49 60 69 42 70 79 41 80 85 42 above 85 43 South Koreans with no religious affiliation by gender 2015 Edit Gender 1 PercentMale 61 Female 52 History EditPrior to the 20th century Korean society was Neo Confucian and most Koreans were nontheists who were not concerned with the question of whether or not God existed Following the division of Korea in the mid 20th century approximately 88 of South Koreans said they had no religious affiliation in 1964 While religiousness in South Korea experienced a sharp rise in the 20th century the majority of South Koreans 56 had no religious affiliation as of 2015 national census 10 1 According to a 2012 Gallup International poll 15 of South Koreans said they were convinced atheists an increase from 11 in 2005 6 According to some experts contemporary irreligion in South Korea can be partially attributed to South Koreans distrust of hierarchical organizations like religious groups Experts also point to South Korea s demanding education and work systems as reasons why few young South Koreans participate in organized religion 11 12 See also EditReligion in South KoreaNotes Edit See also Korean Buddhism References Edit a b c d e f 성 연령 및 종교별 인구 시군구 Population by Gender Age and Religion City Country Korean Statistical Information Service in Korean 2015 Retrieved 2018 03 17 Quinn Joseph Peter 2019 South Korea In Demy Timothy J Shaw Jeffrey M eds Religion and Contemporary Politics A Global Encyclopedia ABC CLIO p 365 ISBN 978 1 4408 3933 7 Retrieved 3 June 2020 Kedar Nath Tiwari 1997 Comparative Religion Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 81 208 0293 4 Religious Intelligence UK Report 1 Archived 2016 01 05 at the Wayback Machine North Korea about com a b Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism WIN Gallup International 2012 07 27 Retrieved 2018 03 20 시도 연령 성별 종교인구 Population by Cities Age Gender Religion Korean Statistical Information Service in Korean 1985 Retrieved 2018 03 17 행정구역 성 연령별 종교인구 Population of Religions by Region Gender Age Korean Statistical Information Service in Korean 1995 Retrieved 2018 03 17 성 연령 종교별 인구 시군구 Population by Gender Age and Religion City Country Korean Statistical Information Service in Korean 2005 Retrieved 2018 03 17 Baker Don 2013 Korea s Path of Secularisation In Ghosh Ranjan ed Making Sense of the Secular Critical Perspectives from Europe to Asia Routledge pp 182 193 ISBN 1136277218 Strother Jason 2017 05 08 The Rise of Cafe Churches in South Korea The Atlantic Retrieved 2018 03 20 Borowiec Steven 2017 05 28 Why young South Koreans are turning away from religion Al Jazeera Retrieved 2018 03 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Irreligion in South Korea amp oldid 1137959470, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
