Religious and Racial Discrimination in South Korea Essay

In August 2008, Buddhists from South Korea held a protest against Pro-Christian bias in the government of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak. Followers of Buddhism showed their discontent against Lee Myung-bak’s favoring Christians. The Chief Executive likewise received criticism for placing Christians in his Cabinet and choice spots (Kwang, 2008). The Buddhist protest began in June when the Ministry of Transportation scrapped Buddhist temples from electronic maps of South Korea’s public transport system. Compounding this hatred is the inspection of the car of Venerable Jikwan, who is chief of South Korea’s top Buddhist sects. Because of this, the approval rating of Lee Myung-bak decreased considerably (Kwang, 2008). Conclusion Imperialism had a major impact in the development of 20th century Korea. With some assistance from the US and Great Britain, Japan conquered Korea in 1910, which ended the latter’s existence as an independent state. Aiming to establish its own Empire, Japan modified Korean economy in order to manufacture its own agricultural products. Korean peasants were forced to leave their lands and by 1930s and 1940s, majority of Koreans were working in the mining or manufacturing sector of Manchuria, Japan, and Korea. South Korea is considered as one of the world’s most ethically homogenous nations. Koreans descended from the Neolithic people who migrated to the Korean Peninsula from the northeastern portion of mainland Asia. Consisting the biggest minority group in South Korea are people with Chinese descendants. Local residents include an increasing number of foreign nationals, including migrant workers from South and southeast Asia, entrepreneurs, diplomats, and other professionals from various parts of the world. Half of South Korea’s population actively practices their religion. Christianity and Buddhism dominate the religion of South Korea. Only 3% consider themselves as Confucians and the remaining 1% practices the traditional religion of Shamanism and Chondogyo. New religions also sprouted in South Korea. Majority of them are syncretic, which means that they have the ability to merge with different religious beliefs. The most prevalent among these beliefs is the Unification Church established by Sun Myung Moon in 1954. Chondogyo blends aspects of Confucianism, Daoism, Shamanism, Christianity, and Buddhism. References Background Note: South Korea (2008 March).Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs- US Department of State. Retrieved October 2 2008 from http://www. state. gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2800. htm. Hart-Landsberg, M (1989 July). South Korea: Looking At The Left. BNet Business Network. Retrieved October 2 2008 from http://findarticles. com/p/articles/mi_m1132/is_/ai_7768445 Kim, K. T. (2008 August 27). South Korea’s Buddhists March Against President. Las Cruces Sun News. Retrieved October 2 2008 from http://www. lcsun-news. com/ci_10313895 Peterson, M (n. d). South Korea. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 2 2008 from http://www. encarta. msn. com