Religion, Civil Society and Multiculturalism in Korea

In this study, I examine the role of religion as a socially integrating force in the transition of Korean society toward multiculturalism. In this era of globalization, when most nations are becoming multiethnic or multicultural, arguments and conflicts over multiculturalism are topics of heated debate worldwide. Theoretically, I take into consideration Bellah’s “civil religion” and Casanova’s “public religion” and examine whether these social theories may have validity for explaining the roles of religion in multicultural social context of Korea.

My research tries to compare the roles and functions of three major religions (e.g., Catholicism, Protestantism, and Buddhism) in their social works for immigrant workers in Korea. For this task, I analyzed statistical data spanning 2001 to 2010 regarding social welfare centers providing services for foreign migrants in Korea, managed by religious organizations. I also conducted in-depth interviews with religious leaders who are in charge of these centers.

As a result, Catholic churches include most various activities to solve multicultural problems of migrants in close relationships with Korean civil society. Catholic leaders work with civil NGOs for the social integration. Protestant churches have most number of social welfare centers for the migrant workers in Korea. There is a problem of proselytizing. Lastly, Buddhist temples, lacking the prophetic traditions unlike Christianity, put little effort into these issues. However, every religion, to different degrees, appears to secure its interest in the expansion of religious influence on a society.  What is significant in the public roles of religion should be engaged in the civil ethos of a "good society" (Bellah).