Few Facts about South Korean Demography

Religion

Religion in South Korea
Christianity			29.3%
Buddhism			22.8%
Won Buddhism			0.3%
Confucianism			0.2%
Cheondoism			0.1%
No religion stated			46.5%

As of 2005, approximately 46.5% of the South Korean population express no religious preference.^[116] Of the rest, most are Christian or Buddhist; according to the 2005 census, 29.2% of the population at that time was Christian (18.3% professed to being Protestants and 10.9% Catholics), and 22.8% were Buddhist.^[117][118] Other religions include Islam and various new religious movements such as Jeungism, Daesunism, Cheondoism and Wonbuddhism.

Throughout history, numerous religions—including Mahayana Buddhism, Korean Confucianism, Taoism and Korean Shamanism—have existed in Korea, and South Korea remains religiously diverse.^{[117][119][120]} Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution, and there is no state religion.^[121]

Korean shamanism is the original religion in South Korea. Other religions, in particular Buddhism and Christianity have imbibed much from Confucianism as practiced in South Korea. Confucianism had been the state religion of the Joseon Dynasty which ruled for 500 years. More than being a religion in South Korea, Confucianism and its inherent values have become a way of life for the South Korean people.^[122]

The Myungsung Presbyterian Church.

There are approximately 13.7 million Christians^[123] (8.6 million Protestants and 5.1 million Catholics^[117]) in the country today. The largest Christian church in South Korea, Yoido Full Gospel Church, is located in Seoul. Roman Catholicism has been the fastest growing religion in South Korea since the late 1980s.^[124] South Korea is also the second-largest missionary-sending nation.^[125]

Buddhism was introduced to Korea from China in the year 372.^[126] According to the national census as of 2005, South Korea has over 10.7 million Buddhists.^{[117][123][127]} Today, about 90% of Korean Buddhists belong to Jogye Order. Most of the National Treasures of South Korea are Buddhist artifacts. Along with Neo-Confucianism, Buddhism was also a state religion during the periods from Three Kingdoms of Korea to Goryeo before suppression under the Joseon Dynasty.^[128]

There are an estimated 45,000 Muslim Koreans, in addition to some 100,000 foreign workers from Muslim countries,^[129] particularly Bangladesh and Pakistan.^[130]

A growing number of South Koreans adhere to new religious movements. Among these are Cheondoism, Jeungism and Daesunjinrihoe. These religions have developed as a reaction to the influence of Christianity and Western culture in the Korean society. The exact figures of the amount of followers of these new religions remain controversial.