Catholic Koreans in Choson Korea Essay

Although China’s influence over Korea has waned severely since the dynastic years we find the Confucian system of virtues and behaviors, China’s chief export from that time, still very much alive. Korea highly values the extended family, education, personal discipline and public order. In South Korea Confucian temples continue to be maintained throughout the country. The tenets of Confucianism are seen as antidotes to social ills and therefore education is thought of as a means of building character, not simply of intellectual formation. The values of Confucianism are promulgated throughout Korea in places as diverse as school, the office and the home. Television programs often portray Confucian merits such as filial piety and harmony. However

This also persisted throughout the fourth century. Often, enforcement of persecution laws was really left up to local officials. There are reports of terrible and unrelenting persecution in some areas, while there are no reports at all in others. Additionally, issues at the border throughout this time often plagued emperors, so it was impossible to ensure that their edicts were universally carried out. As a result, the empire simply was not equipped to completely halt the spread of Christianity.

In contrast to the persecution experienced by early Christian followers, Christianity today does not experience the level of outward persecution. Christianity is practiced in an atmosphere nearly void of violence. It was not until the reign of Constantine when Christians were authorized to practice their chosen faith. The “Ediet of Milan”(313 A.D.), gave official recognition to the Christian faith, thus ending persecution within the Roman Empire. Before Constantine’s rule, there were many rulers eager to drive out the Christians. The Emperor Trajan (98-117 A.D.) established the first official policy relating to Christians and how they should be dealt with. Diocletion and the Apologists were the last of the persecutors in this era before Constantine. This marked the end of open persecution

Since the first immigrants moved into American neighborhoods, many issues have arisen between Americans and the Korean community. In 1911 and 1913,

Two dictators with bias opinions, both ran a country under communism and discriminated religions while other were petrified to speak up, therefore living in fear of what could happen to them. Sarah’s family, as well as many others were arrested and taken to a concentration and labor camp in France during the Holocaust. A similar action, but with slightly less extremity is taking place in North Korea at the moment, as Christians are forced to hide their religious beliefs as,” The North Korean regime has continued to position itself as one of the world’s worst persecutors of the religious, torturing and killing people who practice their faith”.   The religious discrimination in North Korea resembles much like the early years of the Holocaust  because, “The Commission has received reports that officials have arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and sometimes executed North Korean citizens who are found to have ties with overseas Christian evangelical groups operating across the border in China, as well as those who engage in unauthorized religious activities such as public religious expression and persuasion” (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom).

Many had issues with Christianity and believed that those who supported or practiced it should be killed. The most known case is the emperor

The Korean War was the historical event that most shaped Korea’s identity. It affected many areas of Korea, such as the economy, government, and the involvement of the United States. There was an economic crisis causing many people to suffer, a government was established, and because of the involvement of the US, Korea got lots of western influence. The essay below will explain how the Korean War affected Korea’s economy, the government, and the involvement of the US.

are specifically targeted. Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, is known for having many Christians.

When we ask “How important is religion in your community? Why?” Sophia answered it is important either Christian or atheist. In summary, Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism are the main religions in Korean community. (http://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Korean-Life/Religion)

Fei Ch’i-hao, a Chinese Christian, gives his account of the terror and cruelty of the religious persecution converts and missionaries faced. Many went into hiding to escape death including Ch’i-hao. His point of view is unique to my sources as Chinese Christians, as well as foreigners, were also targeted in the rebellion because they represented western influence.

People try to leave North Korea to go to democratic countries because they have no religious freedom, public executions, and collective punishments. Organized Religion in North Korea can be seen as a threat to the regime. Thousands of Christians and Buddhist people have been killed all through the history of North Korea. People who are caught studying or spreading the religion secretly are punished terribly. For example, they can be executed publicly or be

Under Yi Sŏng-Gye’s son King Sejong, considered Korea’s greatest ruler, inventions like the rain gauge, the use of a movable type, and the birth of Korean alphabet called Hangeul, still in use today, surfaced. (Piddock, 27-28) They ruled the entire peninsula for 500 years. Then Korea was annexed by neighbors Japan in 1910. Korea continued to be under Japan until 1945 when it was liberated at the end of World War II. (“North Korea”, Culturegrams) “With the defeat of Japan in 1945, the Allies agreed to divide the Korean Peninsula between the Soviet Union and the United States at the thirty-eighth parallel as a temporary measure.” (Piddock, 30) The Soviet Union received the Northern part of Korea, and the United States the South. “.. Soviet forces closed off northern Korea at the thirty-eighth parallel and placed Korean communists in power there.” Evidently, North Korea was bound to turn communist.

Koreans in North Korea form one group of unreached people. People Groups website defines a unreached people group as one where “there is no indigenous community of believing Christians able to engage this people group with church planting.” The inability of church planting amongst this people group and the persecution of Christians in this country creates a major challenge to the spreading of Christianity.

Understanding how North Korea as a country defines itself in a changing world. Where do they derive their customs and practices, political standings and military power? Define North Korea’s history leading into the modern age and define its culture and characteristics and how they interact with the world today. Understanding a subject as broad as the term culture begins where the culture began with the birth of civilization and the people that influenced it. There are many factors that play a role in the shaping of a nation none so much as turmoil and conflict and the Korean peninsula saw its fair share for the better part of a millennia. A complete statistical breakdown of North Korea shows a struggling nation that strongly depends on

Even though many South Koreans express no religious preference, there are two main religions in the country; the citizens of South Korea practice Christianity and Buddhism. Since South Korea is a homogeneous country, it has its own spoken language. The country also does not have many ethnicities residing in the nation, except for some migrant Chinese laborers.