Sarah Mitchell
Catholicism in South Korea has grown significantly in recent years, with the number of adherents rising from 7.9% to 11.3% of the population between 1997 and 2023. This growth is particularly notable given South Korea's declining population and low birth rate. In 2022, there were 5,949,862 baptised Catholics in the country, a slight increase from the previous year. The Catholic Church's social action through schools, universities, hospitals, and soup kitchens, as well as its association with freedom and progressive change, has contributed to its popularity. The number of adult baptisms also increased by nearly 10% from 2021 to 2022, with a total of 41,000 people receiving the sacrament.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in South Korea | 5,949,862 (2022) |
| Percentage of Catholics in South Korea | 11.3% (2022) |
| Number of Baptisms in 2022 | 41,384 |
| Percentage increase in Baptisms (2022) | 13.3% |
| Average number of Catholics attending Sunday Mass (2022) | 699,681 |
| Percentage of Catholics attending Mass weekly (2022) | 11.8% |
| Number of Priests (2022) | 5,703 |
| Number of Parishes | 1,734 |
| Number of Nuns | 9,000 |
| Percentage of Catholics in South Korea (1999) | 8.3% |
| Number of Catholics in South Korea (1999) | 3.9 million |
| Percentage increase in Catholics in South Korea (1999-2018) | 48.6% |
| Number of Catholics in South Korea (2018) | 5.8 million |
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What You'll Learn
Catholicism's growth in South Korea
Catholicism in South Korea has grown significantly in recent years. In 1962, the Catholic Church in South Korea established its current structure of three Metropolitan Provinces, each with an Archdiocese and several suffragan Dioceses. At that time, there were about half a million Catholics in the country. By the end of 2017, there were approximately 5.8 million Catholics in South Korea, comprising 11% of the population. This represented a 1.3% increase from the previous year, with over 75,000 adult baptisms.
The Catholic Church in South Korea has continued to grow, and in 2022, there were 5,949,862 baptized Catholics, accounting for 11.3% of the population. This growth has occurred despite South Korea's declining overall population and the fact that more than half of South Koreans have no religious affiliation. The number of baptisms rose by 13.3% in 2022 compared to the previous year, with a total of 41,384 people receiving the sacrament. The percentage of Catholics attending Mass weekly also increased from 8.8% in 2021 to 11.8% in 2022.
Several factors have contributed to the growth of Catholicism in South Korea. Firstly, the Church is perceived positively by the general public due to its role in the democratization of South Korea, its participation in social welfare initiatives, and its respectful approach to interfaith relationships and traditional Korean spirituality. Secondly, the Church has taken social action through schools, universities, hospitals, and soup kitchens, which has been well-received by South Koreans. Additionally, the sense of fraternity and freedom associated with Christianity has attracted many Koreans, particularly young people, who appreciate the liberating effect it offers in a society marked by rigid social stratification and classism.
South Korea has the fourth-largest number of saints in the Catholic Church since 1984, including the Korean Martyrs. The country has also hosted several significant Catholic events, such as the visit of Pope Francis in 2014 and the upcoming World Youth Day in 2027, which will be a gathering of Catholic youth and young adults from around the world. These events further contribute to the growth and visibility of Catholicism in South Korea.
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Catholic baptisms in South Korea
Catholicism in South Korea has grown significantly in recent years, with membership rising from 7.9% to 11.3% of the population between 1997 and 2021. In 1995, South Korea was home to 2,885,000 Catholics. By 2005, this number had risen to 5,015,000. In 2022, there were 5,949,862 baptised Catholics in South Korea, a rise of 11,817 (0.2%) from the previous year. In 2023, this number rose again to 5,970,675, a further increase of 0.3%.
In 2022, the number of baptisms rose by 13.3% compared to the previous year, with a total of 41,384 people receiving the sacrament. This number increased again in 2023, with 51,307 people baptised, a 24% increase on the previous year. This rise has been attributed to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in April 2022. However, despite this sharp year-on-year increase, annual baptisms remain below pre-pandemic levels. In 2017, the Church grew by 1.3%, with over 75,000 adult baptisms.
The Catholic Church in South Korea is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The Church's growth in South Korea has been attributed to its relatively positive perception by the general public, due to its role in the democratisation of South Korea, its active participation in various works of social welfare, and its respectful approach to interfaith relationships and matters of traditional Korean spirituality. Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy, has also suggested that the Church's association with freedom attracted many Koreans:
> "The spread of Catholicism in Korea was facilitated by the demands for freedom that it implied in a society and culture framed in rigid social stratification. A society … that was very hierarchical and marked by exclusionary classism. The sense of fraternity regardless, which is proper to Christianity, had a liberating effect in that context, welcomed by a large part of the population. This also explains why the Korean Church has a good following among young people: young people love freedom."
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Catholic Mass attendance
Catholicism in South Korea has grown significantly in recent years, with membership rising from 7.9% to 11.3% of the population between 1997 and 2021. In 2022, the number of Catholics in South Korea increased slightly to 5,949,862, or 11.3% of the population, while the country's overall population declined. This growth can be attributed to the Church's relatively positive perception by the general public because of its role in the democratization of South Korea, its active participation in various social welfare initiatives, and its respectful approach to interfaith relationships and traditional Korean spirituality.
In 2022, the percentage of Catholics attending Mass weekly rose from 8.8% in 2021 to 11.8% in 2022, with 699,681 Catholics attending Sunday Mass on average. This rise was attributed to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in April 2022. However, Mass attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels, when over a million people attended Mass on average each Sunday.
The Catholic Church in South Korea has seen a significant increase in the number of baptisms. In 2022, there was a 13.3% increase in the number of baptisms compared to the previous year, with a total of 41,384 people receiving the sacrament. In 2023, there were 51,307 baptisms, consisting of 12,832 children, 34,511 adults, and 3,964 people in danger of death. The number of adult baptisms increased by nearly 10% from 2021 to 2022.
The growth of the Catholic Church in South Korea is particularly notable given the country's low birth rate and high number of baptisms. The Church's initiatives, such as "Church Every Day," aim to draw people back to in-person Masses through parish activities, community events, and outreach programs. The Church's visibility is also increased by the presence of prominent cultural figures and celebrities who are Catholics, such as Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik and K-pop idol Rain.
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Catholic perception in South Korea
Catholicism in South Korea is unique in that it has incorporated traditional Confucian customs, which form an integral part of traditional secular Korean culture. In the 1880s, when Protestantism was introduced to Korea, it soon eclipsed Catholic missions due to the financial support and experience of American missionary groups. However, Catholic believers were more likely to pursue a modern education and were overrepresented among the first Korean engineers, medical doctors, and university professors.
In the 1960s, South Korea's Catholic church hierarchy began to drift leftward, coinciding with a period of military dictatorship. Catholic churches were frequently used as asylum for participants in anti-government rallies and labour activists. When military rule ended in 1987, the Catholic church was widely credited for its role in the country's transition to democracy, boosting its popularity.
South Korean Catholicism has also been influenced by its association with freedom. Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy, explained how the Church attracted many Koreans due to its implications for freedom in a society marked by rigid social stratification and exclusionary classism. This sense of fraternity, proper to Christianity, had a liberating effect on Koreans, particularly the youth.
The Catholic Church in South Korea has shown exponential growth in the last 50 years, increasing from about half a million Catholics in the 1960s to nearly 6 million today. In 2023, it was reported that there were 5,970,675 adherents, accounting for 11.3% of the population. This growth can be partly attributed to the Church's positive perception by the general public, its social welfare initiatives, and its respectful approach to interfaith relationships and traditional Korean spirituality.
South Korea has fifteen territorial dioceses, including three archdioceses (Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju) and a military diocese. The country has one of the lowest birth rates but a high number of baptisms, with 41,000 people receiving this sacrament in 2022, a 10% increase from the previous year.
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Catholic demographics in South Korea
Catholicism has played a significant role in South Korea's history, and the country now has the fourth-largest number of saints in the Catholic Church worldwide. The Catholic Church in South Korea has witnessed exponential growth in the last few decades, with the number of adherents rising from 6% in the mid-1990s to approximately 11% as of 2023, translating to nearly 6 million Catholics in the country. This growth is particularly notable given South Korea's declining overall population and low birth rate.
Historical Context
The introduction of Catholicism to Korea in the 18th century was facilitated by increased trade and cultural exchange with the West, particularly Europe. Korean scholars and intellectuals played a pivotal role in the early development of the Church in Korea by embracing the new faith and laying the groundwork for its establishment. However, Catholicism faced severe persecution under the Joseon Dynasty due to the threat it posed to the existing Confucian-based social and political order. Despite the risks, the Catholic community persevered and grew clandestinely, with many martyrs during this period.
Social Factors
The Catholic Church in South Korea is widely respected for its contributions to society, including its role in the country's democratization, active participation in social welfare, and respectful approach to interfaith relations and traditional Korean spirituality. Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik attributes the appeal of Catholicism in Korea to its association with freedom and fraternity, which was particularly liberating in a historically rigid and classist society. The Church's stance against military dictatorship and active support for pro-democracy resistance have further bolstered its popularity, especially among the youth.
Recent Trends
The Catholic population in South Korea has continued to grow, albeit at a slower rate in recent years. Between 1999 and 2018, the number of Catholics increased by 48.6%, and as of 2022, there were approximately 5.9 million baptized Catholics in the country, accounting for 11.3% of the population. Notably, the number of adult baptisms has increased, with a 10% rise in 2022 compared to the previous year. However, Mass attendance has declined, with Sunday Mass attendance dropping by about 10 points over the past two decades.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, 11.3% of South Korea's population is Catholic. This is a significant increase from 1999 when Catholics made up only 3.9% of the population.
As of 2022, there were 5,949,862 baptised Catholics in South Korea. This is an increase of 11,817 (0.2%) from 2021.
In 2022, an average of 699,681 Catholics attended Sunday Mass in South Korea. This is a decrease from 2019 when 1,080,687 Catholics (18.3%) attended Mass weekly.
