Religion and Politics in South KoreaFor North-South Relations, see North Korea. 1. Brief Introduction 1. Brief Introduction to Religion and Politics in South Korea The CIA Factbook states that South Korea (the Republic of Korea [ROK]), has a population of just over 48.6 million and a .258% population growth rate (July 2010 est). It also reports the country as 49.3% no religious affiliation, 26.3% Christian, and 23.2% Buddhist (see Asia Focus below for 2005 National Statistical Office figures). The ROK had a 2009 HDI ranking of #26 and a 2009 CPI ranking of 5.5. Like China which has greatly influenced Korean social forms, the Korean neo-Confucian state witnessed tension between Mandarin elites and peasant sectarians, both groups combining religious and political legitimacy. Christianity came to the peninsula through lay contacts with China and the West. Japanese colonization (1910-45) destroyed the Confucian fabric of Korean society without substituting anything in its place. The post-World War II hegemonic nation, the United States, made Christianity a more viable option, and South Korea now ranks as the second largest source of Christian missionaries in the world. The Korean War (1950-53) resulted in the split of the peninsula into the ROK and the DPRK. South Korea experienced the control of various dictatorial regimes until the democratization of the late 1980s. Both Protestants and Catholic were very active in the democracy movements against the authoritarian regimes. The cardinal archbishop of Seoul, Stephen Kim Sou Hwan, served as the nation’s principal ethical spokesperson in that era. Since that period, the ROK has had two Protestands, Kim Young Sam of Pusan and Lee Myung Bak of Seoul, and one Catholic, Kim Dae Jung of Cholla, as presidents. Korea maintains the world’s fifteenth largest economy (GDP purchasing power parity) and has strong economic relations with China, Japan, and the United States. The ROK is also one of the world’s most wired nations with ubiquitous cell phones and computers. It is a leading exporter of pop culture to all of Asia, but especially to China and Taiwan. Unfortunately, the peninsula remains heavily armed, with the major diplomatic question concerning how to respond to the nuclear threat of the North. Korea. The South, especially under the administration of Roh Moo Hyun, tended to take a less alarmist view of these relations than either the United States or Japan. For Roh's trip to North Korea in October 2007, see that entry. On December 18, ex-Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak of the Grand National Party was elected in a landslide. The major issue of the campaign was the economy. Lee has taken a stronger stand toward North Korea. In April 2008 Lee's party won a thin majority in the parliament. In March 2010 a South Korean ship was sunk, and in May Seoul announced that it had been done by the North. Peninsula relations have been significantly more tense since then. Hanson (2006) discusses “The Korean Peninsula: North-South Competition in the EMC Systems” (pp. 182-88); and “The Future of East Asia in the EMC Systems,” (pp. 188-97). 2. A Short Introductory Course to Religion and Politics in South Korea Baker details the history of Catholicism in China from its lay Confucian origins to the late 1990s. Jenkins often refers to Biblical Christianity in Korea. Nyung Kim describes the democratization process. Oberdorfer brings Korean political history into the twenty-first century, and Tedesco charts the rise of social engagement in South Korean Buddhism. Baker, Don. "From Pottery to Politics," in Lancaster, Lew, and Payne, Richard, eds. Institute for East Asian Studies, Religion and Contemporary Society in Korea (Berkeley: University of California, 1998), 127-68. Jenkins, Philip. The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South (New York: Oxford University Press, 2006). Kim, Nyung. “The Politics of Religion in South Korea, 1974-89: The Catholic Church’s Political Opposition to the Authoritarian State.” (dissertation: University of Washington, 1993). Oberdorfer, Don. The Two Koreas: A Contemporary History, updated and revised (New York: Basic Books, 2001). Tedesco, Frank, “Social engagement in South Korean Buddhism,” in Queen, Christopher, Prebish, Charles, and Keown, Damien. Action Dharma: New Studies in Engaged Buddhism (London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003). 3. Other Key Resource Materials for Religion and Politics in South Korea See January-February Asian Survey for annual summaries of politics in both Koreas. Baker, Don, "International Christian Network for Korea's Democratization," in Democratic Movements and Korean Society: Historical Documents and Korean Studies, Dim Dae-Jung, Presidential Library and Museum (Seoul: Yonsei University, 2007), 133-61. This essay documents the international Christian connections that aided the democratization process, with the most famous being the smuggled T.K., Letters from South Korea that appeared in the Japanese magazine Sekai from late 1972 to early 1988. Baker, Don, “World Religions and National States: Competing Claims in East Asia,” Rudolph, Susanne Hoeber, and Piscatori, James, Transnational Religion and Fading States (Boulder, Co.: Westview Press, 1997), 144-72. Economist, "a special report on religion and public life," November 3, 2007, pp. 6-11,"O come all ye faithful" on South Korea, featuring the world's largest megachurch, Yoido Full Gospel Church. Hanson, Eric O. Catholic Politics in China and Korea (Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1980). Kim, Whanyung, “Political Economy of Development and Religions in Korea.” (Ph.D. dissertation: Stanford University, 1996). A political-economic approach to religion in Korea. Reischauer, Edwin O. and Fairbank, John K. East Asia: The Great Tradition (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1967). The classic history of East Asia, part one. Reischauer, Edwin O., Fairbank, John K., and Craig, Albert M. East Asia: The Modern Transformation (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1965). The classic history of East Asia, part two. 4. Recent News Articles on South Korea (a. Politics; b. Religion and Politics; c. Religion; d. Political Economy; e. Society; f. Foreign Policy): a. Politics “Korea’s Tricky Task: Digging Up Past Treachery,” New York Times, January 5, 2005. Change in South Korean ruling class (Roh election, triumph of Uri Party) facilitates look into Korea’s past during Japanese occupation and Park Chung Hee and other military dictatorships. Park’s daughter, Park Gean Hye, is head of Grand National Party, which charges political motives. “South Korea’s Governing Party Suffers a Blow in Local Elections,” New York Times, June 2, 2006. Uri won only won of sixteen contests to choose big-city mayors and provincial governors. Frustration with Uri rather than support for corruption-ridden Grand National Party, and younger ruling class disdain. "South Korea's President Sags in Opinion Polls," New York Times, November 27, 2006. Roh Moo-hyun has a current approval rating of eleven percent due to his handling of the economy. Criticism of conservative Grand National Party. "Korean Officials Accused in Widening Bribery Scandal," New York Times, November 13, 2007. Scandal engulfs high officials in government. Article also places it in context of coming presidential election on December 19. "Conservative Wins Presidential Election in South Korea," New York Times, December 20, 2007. Analysis of Lee's landslide (48.7 percent, Liberal Chung Dong-young at 26.1 percent) win on the basis of current weak economy. Voters chose economic competence over unquestioned probity. Lee comes from very poor Christian family. Friend, the Rev. Kim Jin-hong, quoted as "Because the situation in South Korea is very complicated, it's not easy to be a perfect ethical Christian. . . .But he's had the spirit and conviction to lead a life that's as Christian as possible." "Despair Overwhelmed Former South Korean Leader Embroiled in a Bribery Scandal," New York Times, May 24, 2009. Suicide of ex-President Roh Moo-hyun and background. Roh came from poor family, took strong stands, and cherished his reputation for honesty. b. Religion and Politics “Nuclear test announcement alarms Christians, Buddhists,” (October 13, 2006), and “Korean bishops call for more dialogue (October 20, 2006), Asia Focus. South Korean religious leaders respond to October 9 announcement of nuclear test by North Korea. "Further Fervor: Missionaries Go From East to West," Wall Street Journal, August 3, 2007. Following Taliban killing of two captive missionaries, national debate on role of many Korean missionaries. See also "Freed Koreans Are Contrite Amid Growing Criticism," New York Times, September 3, 2007. "Catholic priests expose Samsung slush fund, call for probe," Asia Focus, November 9, 2007. The Catholic Priests' Association for Justice (CPAJ) held a press conference on October 29 to state that Kim Yong-cheol, former Sansung group lawyer, had informed them one week earlier of a large illegal fund to bribe public officials. "Religious leaders want new president to work for national unity," Asia Focus, December 28, 2007. Statements by Bishop John Chang Yik, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference, Reverend Kwon Oh-sung, secretary of the National Council of Churches, and Venerable Jikwan, chief exercutive of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist Order, advocating working for national unity with the North. President Lee is a member of the Somang Presbyterian Church in Seoul. "Buddhists protest government's bias," Asia Focus, September 5, 2008. Tens of thousands of Buddhist laity and monks, led by Venerable Wonhak, general affairs director of Jogye Order, protest perceived fundamentalist Christian slant of Lee government. Anglican Father Abraham Kim Gwang-joon, chairperson of the Ecumenical Committee of the National Council of Churches, also joined the rally. c. Religion “More Koreans favor Catholicism, Church tries to stress quality,” Asia Focus, July 7, 2006. Latest statistics on Catholicism in the ROK, with comparison to 2005 census “self described” National Statistical Office (NSO) figures released May 26. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) only counts those in parishes, or 9.5% of population. NSO has the following percentages, from 1995 to 2005: Buddhists, 23.2 to 22.8 percent; Protestants, 19.7 to 18.3 percent; and Catholics, 6.6 to 10.9 percent. "Shamanism Enjoys Revival in Techno-Saavy Korea," New York Times, July 7, 2007. "Beloved 'Asian John XXIII' laid to rest in Korea," National Catholic Reporter, February 21, 2009. Thomas C. Fox writes on death of Cardinal Kim Sou-hwan and outpouring of grief. Fox also tells the story of Kim's part in the founding of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) in the early 1970s. d. Political Economy "South Koreans, Jittery Over Economy, Lose Faith in President's Business Skills," New York Times, October 31, 2008. Since taking office February, President Lee has stumbled on the economy, made worse by global financial crisis. On October 20, 24% supported the president, and 31% approved his handling of economic crisis. e. Society “Roll Over Godzilla: Korea Rules,” New York Times, June 28, 2005. Korea emerging as the pop culture leader of Asia. In Taiwan, “Korean dramas are considered more emotionally powerful.” “South Korea, in Turnabout, Now Calls for More Babies,” New York Times, August 21, 2005. Because of precipitous decline in birth rate, government stops paying for vasectomies and tubal ligations, but for their reversal. Like similarly ethnically homogenous Japan, there is no support for the kind of immigration that occurs in U.S. f. Foreign Policy “S. Korea rejects leading U.S. role in potential crisis,” San Jose Mercury News, April 16, 2005. In January, ROK rejected joint military contingency plan in case government of Kim Jong Il collapsed. “U.S. to Roll Out Tepid Welcome For President Of South Korea,” New York Times, September 14, 2006. Coolness in U.S.-R.O.K. relations over North Korea, etc. July 29, 2010. |
|
|
