Religion in North Korea

Religion in North Korea describes the situation of religions and religious communities in the Korean Democratic People's Republic of ( DPRK ), short North Korea.

• 2.1 Buddhism
• 2.2 Christianity
• 2.3 Ch'ŏndogyo

History

The majority of the population of the country made ​​traditionally from Buddhists and Confucianists. In addition, there since the late 18th century, when the first Christian missionaries arrived in the country, a Christian minority and the resulting successor in the 19th century syncretic Cheondogyo ( religion of the " Heavenly Way" ).

Christianity

The first Christian missionary ( a Roman Catholic ) came to Korea in 1785, although the spread of Christianity was forbidden. Korean Christians were persecuted by the government until the country's " Open Door " policy initiated with Western countries in 1881. In 1863, the number of Roman Catholic Christians in Korea was only 23,000.

Until the first half of the twentieth century Pyongyang was the center of Christianity on the Korean peninsula. A spiritual revival took place in 1907 ( the Wonsan Revival 1903 following), and the Christian population increased; in 1945, 13 percent of the population of Pyongyang were Christian. Therefore, the city was also called "The Jerusalem of the East ".

Ch'ŏndogyo

The Ch'ŏndogyo ( " Heavenly Way" ) grew during the 19th century from the Tonghak movement. It emphasizes the divine nature of all human beings and contains elements that are contained in Buddhism, shamanism, Confucianism, Daoism, and in Catholicism.

Presence

The North Korean constitution provides for freedom of religion in Article 68, but only insofar as it does not bring foreign forces into the country and the social order of the country not at risk. Article 67 guarantees also with limitations, of speech, of the press and freedom of assembly. The North Korean government stressed state and religion are separated and gave to the UN in the year 2000, there were in North Korea 40,000 practicing religious people, or nearly 0.2 percent of the population. These are organized in the following official religious organizations: Korean Christian Federation, Korean Buddhist Association, Korean Association of Roman Catholics and Korean Steering Committee of Chondokyo believers.

Buddhism

According to government sources, there are currently about 10,000 practicing Buddhists, 200 Buddhist preachers and 60 Buddhist temples in North Korea. Buddhism is practiced under the auspices of the official " Korean Buddhist Association ". The training of the Buddhist clergy takes place in a three-year training at a special school, next to the tray exists Buddhism at the Kim Il-sung University. Around ten students to complete the five year course of study each year. Whether these institutions teach traditional Buddhist values ​​, is not known. Observers assume that the schools be used to instruct students to apply Buddhist briefings merely as a support for the Juche ideology. The Buddhist Temple, of which there are several hundred, according to statements made by North Koreans who have fled the country, considered as cultural heritage Korean past ( for example Pohyonsa ) in which held no religious acts.

Christianity

According to official figures is home to around 15,000 Christians in North Korea, including 10,000 Protestants. The numbers are disputed by almost all foreign observers. Although independent checks are impossible, it is assumed that there is an underground church of unknown size. The North Korean government sees Christianity as a threat, especially Protestantism, which they assumed a close relationship with the United States and South Korea. Many North Korean defectors have testified that any form of witness to the Christian faith, even the mere possession of a Bible, can be considered as the reason for arrest and deportation to one of the notorious North Korean re-education camps in which the prisoners of an exceptionally cruel treatment are subjected to frequent leads to death. Former inmates report that Christian prisoners are made ​​even worse in the camps than their non- believing fellow sufferers. American estimates suggest that there may be up to 40,000 prisoners from religious reasons in North Korea, only 6,000 Christians in internment Yodok.

In Pyongyang, there are four church buildings. The Cathedral of Jangchung is officially considered to be Roman Catholic, though there is no priest there, two are Protestant. The Roman Catholic and the Protestant church Bongsu were opened in 1988, the latter in the presence of South Korean religious dignitaries. The second Protestant church ( Chilgol ) exists since 1992. A Russian Orthodox Church was opened on 13 April 2006. Foreign observers believe that the buildings were built only for propaganda purposes, but there are also reports that take place worship with 100 to 250 visitors on a regular basis, at least in the Protestant churches. Critics assume, however, that the churches should only be visited by North Koreans who are assessed as State faithful. Defectors in South Korea say they would even get paid that they attend religious functions that simulate an active Christian community life. Furthermore, the churches opened in 1988 had been built to simulate the numerous foreign visitors in 1989 to be held in Pyongyang World Festival of Youth and Students seem religious freedom in the country. The Orthodox Church in Pyongyang was built five years after Kim Jong -il's trip to Russia, where the icons, the candles and the incense to him have deeply impressed. Some see in this church more of a symbol of North Korean- Russian ties at the political level as a place of religious activity.

Christianity in North Korea is officially represented by the "Korean Christian Association ," a state-controlled institution that is responsible for contacts with foreign churches and governments. Foreigners who are always accompanied by national supervisory staff may attend religious services in the churches Pyongyang. Eyewitnesses report that the sermons mix political and religious views, which glorify the DPRK, and that some of the pastors appear to have had no real religious training.

The American preacher Billy Graham visited North Korea several times in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1994, he met the former President Kim Il Sung. Franklin Graham's son, the footsteps of his father followed in 2000 and met some senior leaders. The World Watch List for Christians of the organization Open Doors, the regime in North Korea is ranked in first place for years.

Ch'ŏndogyo

In North Korea, there is the Chondoistischen Ch'ŏngu party a political party that officially refers to the religion of Ch'ŏndogyo. It is, however, a sham party by type of block parties in the GDR.

State ideology

When the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945 was a part of the Japanese Empire, the Japanese emperor cult was the reason for intolerance of the traditional religions.

The effect of the communist revolution in 1948 was dramatic.

In North Korea, the dictators Kim Il Sung ( the late " Great Leader ") and Kim Jong- il (whose son, the so-called " Dear Leader " ) are at the center of a publicly staged personality cult. Her portraits are ubiquitous in the streets, in schools, in public buildings and in all private homes. The ideological statements and writings, which are produced by the two leaders, are the principal basis of education for children and adults.

The story of the origin of the Kims is transfigured mythological. In the schools taught the children that the leaders had come from heaven. On the top of Paektu -san Mountain they were then transformed into people.

At public events, songs are sung, which represent the leader as the savior of the country and every citizen and pick up this way to the level of gods.

This all-pervasive personality cult, together with the doctrine of Juche ( self-sufficiency ), has gradually replaced the religions that flourished before the rise of real socialism. According to observers from human rights organizations and foreign governments that regime change brought about the end of the free exercise of religion because the government supported only those religious groups who built an illusion of religious freedom.