South Korea is one of the few countries in the world where the majority of the population identifies as non-religious. This is a unique and notable trait. According to the 2024 National Survey on Religious Perception, over half of the population reported having no religious affiliation (No religion: 51%, Protestantism: 20%, Catholicism: 11%, Buddhism: 17%).

In a poll measuring public favorability toward various religions, Buddhism stood out as the only religion with a score above 50, reaching 51.3 and ranking first. This contrasts sharply with the ratings for Protestantism (35.6) and Catholicism (48.6). When asked about positive perception, Buddhism once again came out on top, with 43% of respondents expressing a favorable view.

Additionally, when people were asked what images they associated with Buddhism, “compassion” and “monks” were the most common responses. Interestingly, even among those who do not practice Buddhism, negative associations with the religion were noticeably rare. What’s even more intriguing is that Buddhism is widely recognized for values like nonviolence, silence, and harmony with nature—qualities that resonate strongly with the contemporary values of many Koreans. The minimal presence of negative stereotypes suggests that Buddhism holds a unique cultural position in Korean society.

In contrast, Protestantism has faced increasing criticism, often due to political involvement and social controversies. While Catholicism generally holds a more favorable image than Protestantism, it has not garnered the same consistent public approval as Buddhism.

These findings suggest that in South Korea, religion is evaluated not merely as a matter of personal faith, but also as a source of emotional and cultural resonance. A religion that is appreciated even without being actively practiced—this may help explain Buddhism’s special place in the hearts of many modern Koreans.

심우찬 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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