Religious History
Although currently, more than half of Korea has no affiliation with religion, the region has also been through a myriad of religious traditions through the ages. Over the years, the religious aspect of Korean life has influenced art around the country. In fact, many architectural sites of Korea have religious implications. With religious freedom, many cultures have existed in Korea.
- Shamanism - Shamanism is a primitive religion. While it is not prevalent in society in current times, its beliefs are integrated into traditional Korean traditions. Shamanism, which focuses on interaction with the polytheistic spiritual world, has animistic beliefs.
- Buddhism - Buddhism has had a large role in Korean history. Ever since the Three Kingdoms period, this religion of philosophy, salvation, and rebirth existed prominently throughout Korea until 1910 where Japanese colonial rule attempted to merge it with Japanese culture.
- Confucianism - from China, a moral and ethical belief system from Confucius designed to emphasize family and respect to elders. Confucianism is more of a societal philosophy rather than a religion, as it does not focus on worship of a spiritual entity.
- Catholicism - in the 17th century, Catholicism was introduced to Korea through missionaries despite opposition of the government
- Protestantism - in the late 1800s, missionaries used medicine and education to spread their monotheistic religious ideals
- Islam - Japan's colonial policy moved many Koreans to Islamic regions, where learned traditions of monotheism and devout worship were later brought back home