FF(14)- Christianity Prevails

After two weeks of blank faces and lack of responses from my children I’ve come to the realization that Christmas in Korea and very different than Christmas in America.  But this comes to a surprise to me as the largest religion in South Korea is Christian.

Fact: According to the 2007 Census, of those practicing a religion, 29.2% of South Koreans are Christian.  Of those 29.2%, 18.3% are Protestant and 10.9% are Roman Catholic.  Coming in second, 22.8% of South Koreans are Buddhist, a religion introduced to Korea in 372 AD.  And this is in a country where temples are some of the most visited and eye-catching attractions.

In a CBS interactive, it was determined that since the late 1980s, Roman Catholicism has been the quickest growing denomination on the peninsula.  Perhaps this shift was influenced by the thousands of American soldiers posted in South Korea.  Or maybe it was just to counter their foe, North Korea, who finds pride in arresting and torturing Christian missionaries. 

Some of you might remember the news surrounding Aijalon Gomes, North Korea’s latest Christian play toy and young man, who interestingly held the same position as me- as a GEPIK English Teacher
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And you might have heard about the South’s latest border attraction- a 100ft tall Christmas tree 100 foot Christmas tree at the DMZ, with carolers blasting Christmas music towards the Christian-less North.

Either way, its always beautiful flying into South Korea, as hundreds of crosses stand tall, blaring their red lights above the country, protecting her.

메리 크리스마스!