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According to 2003 statistics compiled by the South Korean government, about 46% of citizens profess to follow no particular religion. Christians account for 27.3% of the population and Buddhists 25.3%. Various other religions account for about 2.5 % of the religious population. These include the Wonbulgyo movement, which emphasises the unity of all things. Another notable minor religion is Cheondogyo , an indigenous faith combining elements of Buddhism, Taoism , Confucianism , and Christianity. Confucianism is also small in terms of self-declared adherents, but the great majority of South Koreans, irrespective of their formal religious affiliation, are strongly influenced by Confucian values, which continue to permeate Korean culture. A small minority of Koreans also profess Islam . BUDDHISM See Also: Korean Buddhism Buddhism is stronger in the more conservative east of the country, namely the Yeongnam and Gangwon regions, where it accounts for more than half of the religious population. There are a number of different "schools" in Korean Buddhism, including the Seon ; however, the overwhelming majority of Buddhist temples are part of the Jogye Order . Many adherents of Buddhism combine Buddhist practice and Shamanism . Buddhism in South Korea is dominated by the Jogye Order , a syncretic sect traditionally linked to the Seon tradition. Most of the country's old and famous temples, such as Bulguksa and Beomeosa , are operated by the Jogye Order, which is headquartered at Jogyesa in central Seoul. CHRISTIANITY See Also: Christianity in Korea The profusion of church steeples in most South Korean cities has often attracted attention. Christianity, which initially got a foothold in Korea in the late 18th century, grew Exponentially in the 1970s and 1980s, and despite slower growth in the 1990s, caught up to and then surpassed Buddhism in the number of adherents. Protestant churches including Presbyterian s, Pentecostal s, and Methodist s make up about 19.8% of the total population, while Roman Catholic s occupy about 7.4%. Christians are especially strong in the west of the country including Seoul , Gyeonggi and Honam regions. Seoul is home to Yoido Full Gospel Church , the largest single church in the world. The Christian faith in South Korea is heavily dominated by four denominations: Roman Catholics, Presybterians, Methodists, and Baptists. Some non-denominational churches also exist. The traditional Peace Churches have not gained a strong foothold on the peninsula. Quakerism briefly attracted a national following in the late 20th century, thanks to the leadership of Ham Seok-heon . However, after Ham's death interested in Quaker thought withered, and now only one Quaker meeting is active nationwide. The state of Unitarianism is similar. Unification Church See Also: Unification Church The Unification Church, founded in Seoul in 1954 by Sun Myung Moon , is one of the modern world's most prominent charismatic faiths. Although most of its followers are now in other countries, it retains a high profile in South Korean affairs, operating various companies including the national media network PBC . The Church has used its substantial resources to support work towards Korean Reunification . SHAMANISM See Also: Korean shamanism Unlike the other traditions here, shamanism does not have a clear creed of its own. Over the centuries, it has become closely associated with Korean Buddhism. Most of those who engage in or follow shamanism are also Buddhists; however, not all Buddhists follow shamanism. Although generally considered unfashionable in South Korea today, shamanic practices remain widespread. The largest association of shamans in South Korea claims more than 100,000 members. Away from Jeju Island, these practitioners are almost entirely female. The shamanic rites, known as ''gut'', vary from region to region. CONFUCIANISM See Also: Korean Confucianism Only 0.7% of contemporary South Koreans give "Confucianism" as their religion. However, the influence of Confucian ethical thought on other religious practices, and on Korean Culture in general, remains quite extensive. Confucian rituals are still practiced at various times of the year. The most prominent of these are the annual rites held at the Shrine of Confucius in Seoul. Other rites, for instance those in honor of clan founders, are held at the numerous shrines found throughout the country. NEW RELIGIONS The fall of the Joseon Dynasty and the coming of the Japanese Occupation spurred the formation of several new faiths. These typically drew on a combination of Western, Eastern, and autochthonous traditions. The most prominent is Chondogyo , which claimed more than a million members at its height in the early 20th century. Today Chondogyo believers make up less than 0.1% of the South Korean population. Other similar religions include Won Buddhism , Daejonggyo and Jeung San Do . OTHER RELIGIONS Islam See Also: Islam in South Korea The number of Muslims in South Korea is estimated at about 40,000. Some are migrant workers from South and Southeast Asia; others are Koreans who have converted to the faith. The largest mosque is the Seoul Central Mosque in the Itaewon district of Seoul; smaller mosques can be found in most of the country's major cities. Hinduism Orthodox Hinduism is practiced only by South Korea's tiny Indian community. However, Hindu traditions such as Yoga and Vedantic thought have attracted widespread interest among younger South Koreans. Judaism The Jewish presence in South Korea effectively began with the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. At this time a large number of Jewish soldiers, including the chaplain Chaim Potok , came to the Korean peninsula. Today the Jewish community is very small and limited to the Seoul Metropolitan Area . Korean converts to Judaism have been extremely few. NOTES # April 23 2004 ''Yonhap News'' article, no longer available. Formerly at Google cache retrieved March 29 2006: [http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:4_vZ4KYg620J:english.yna.co.kr/Engnews/20040423/320000000020040423090346E6.html+yonhap+shamanism&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=opera . SEE ALSO
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