Religions in Korea during its 

                  economic development.

   The past of Korean religion starts from the ancient shamanistic traditions of worshiping to the heaven which symbolized a god. As time goes by religion was supplemented by Buddhism and Confucianism.

   

  Deeply saying, Confucianism was supported by last dynasty of Korea, Choson Dynasty (1302-1910) as a political ideology and suppressed the Buddhism, which despite to all the pressure is still one of the leading religion in Korea at modern time. In other words Choson Dynasty ruled more than 500 years and almost all that time there was a propagation of Confucianism. Nevertheless marks of Buddhism like temples can be easily found in cities of Korea still running. 

Geumsansa Gold Mountain Temple 

Near the end of Dynasty’s rule while Confucianism was collapsing in the country appeared new western religion, Christianity. 

Churches in Sanseong, Seoul

   After the civil war in Korea (1950-1953), when Korea divided into two different countries, when both of them were economically ruined the religion status was established as Christianity and Buddhism in South Korea and atheism in North.

   Since that time religion status in South Korea haven’t significantly changed. Therefore during the drastically developing period of republic of Korea in 20^th century Buddhism and Christianity were stabilized coexisting with Shamanism, Confucianism and Islam as well.

The Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon, Seoul

   The position of South Korea under the American Umbrella made a bridge for Christianity to come to Korea at the time period of its difficult economic development. Up to now Christianity is one of the major religion of South Korea.

References:The Koreas, 2nd edition, Charles Armstrong