Religious Conflict and Coexistence in Korea

Dear Colleagues,

As human beings, we are ceaselessly in pursuit of avenues to satisfy our innate yearnings for transcendence and fulfillment. Paradoxically, our expansion in intelligence, deepening social connections, and broadening aesthetic horizons, while a testament to our freedom and creativity, have often posed challenges rather than liberating us from constraints. In a world more interconnected and communicative than ever before, courtesy of advances in communication and transportation, and despite our exposure to universal aspirations for freedom, security, and prosperity, our society remains marred by mutual suspicions and fears, suffering from political polarization, ideological extremism, and religious fundamentalism. Even amidst well-established laws, policies, regulations, and moral norms, we find ourselves not entirely secure. A prevailing sense persists that our community has lost the sacred canopy or symbolic framework that once furnished us with a profound sense of self, connection, and belonging.

Korea, much like many other nations, grapples with distrust, division, and disharmony. Despite religion's substantial contributions to the nation's formation, survival, and prosperity—from its role in nation-building and independence movements to its contributions to democratization—it continues to wrestle with mutual suspicion, animosity, and hatred. For instance, the Korean public increasingly fails to recognize religion's significant societal value; a recent survey revealed that half of the population now identifies as non-religious, downplaying its positive role. Two major faith communities, notably Protestant Christians and Buddhists, have occasionally found themselves embroiled in conflicts over influence, with each side accusing the other of receiving preferential treatment in policies and often blaming one another for perceived indifference to societal needs. Additionally, there is considerable public tension stemming from a lack of knowledge and understanding of religions at all levels, spanning from world religions and mainstream religious beliefs to new religious movements (NRMs) and folk religion/shamanism. In particular, Islam, relatively new to the Korean public, faces prejudice and unwarranted toxic opinions, which, in turn, shape negative discourse related to accepting refugees and permitting the construction of mosques in towns. Often, invisible but palpable religious conflicts are concealed beneath the surface, masquerading as evangelism and competition.

Call for Papers: As an extension and update of the Special Issue published in 2020 (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/religions/special_issues/Korean_Religion), we extend a warm invitation to scholars to contribute their expertise, delving into concepts, theories, interpretations, and strategies aimed at deepening and broadening our understanding of religion and religious conflict, with a specific focus on the Korean context. Researchers are encouraged to explore these themes through various methodological approaches, encompassing disciplines such as history, anthropology, psychology, textual studies, theology, and sociology, among others.

Topics of Interest (not exhaustive):

Historical perspectives on religious conflict and peace in Korea;

Psychological and sociological analysis of religious tensions;

Interactions between major religions in Korea;

Religious freedom and legal frameworks;

Role of religion in nation-building, democratization, and peaceful co-existence;

Intercultural and interfaith dialogue in Korea;

Education and religious literacy;

Media portrayal of religion and its impact;

Strategies for promoting religious coexistence;

Comparative studies on religious conflict in Korea;

Contribution of religion in multicultural education;

Role of religion in transnational phenomena in Korea.

We look forward to receiving your contributions and fostering a deeper understanding of religious conflict and coexistence in the Korean context. Together, we can contribute to building a more harmonious and inclusive society.

Dr. Song-Chong Lee
Prof. Dr. Yohan Yoo
Guest Editors

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• Korean religion
• religious conflict
• interreligious dialogue