The 5 Most Important Things to know about Korean Religions | Don Baker

The USC Korean Studies Institute Public Intellectual Video Series features experts on various Korea-related issues. This episode presents a talk by cultural historian, Don Baker (Professor of Korean History and Civilization, University of British Columbia).
South Korea has one of the most diverse religious environments on earth. No single religion dominates, but there are strong Buddhist, Protestant and Catholic communities. Moreover, Confucianism is still an important component of the ritual life of South Koreans, as is shamanism. This contrasts sharply with North Korea, in which the official philosophy of Juche assumes the role normally assigned to religions. The emergence of this complex religious culture over the course of the 20th century reveals much about the distinctive characteristics of Korea’s journey to modernity. Of particular note is the increase in organized religious activity as South Korea industrialized and democratized.
This video is supported by the Core University Program for Korean Studies through the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2014-OLU-2250003).