North Korea Religion: A Melting Pot Of Belief Systems
North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been a heavily secretive country since it was founded in 1948. As with many aspects of North Korean life, religion within the country is heavily regulated, and the government is said to use the nation’s beliefs to its own benefit. North Korea has established a non-denominational state religion called Juche Shinto, more commonly known as Juche religion. Despite this state religion, other religious faith systems have also existed in DPRK for much of its history.
A traditional belief system known as “Sang Rok” is the indigenous folk religion of North Korea, known to have existed even before the Korean peninsula’s split into North and South. Sang Rok is a system of animism, shamanism and ancestor worship, where shamans communicate with spiritual realms to communicate directly with spirits, ancestors, and god. It is a faith which focuses on communal cohesion, shamanic power and the practice of living honourably. In North Korea, it is seen as a method of longevity and control, as adherents of this religion obey the laws of their leaders, believing they were bestowed upon them by the gods.
Christianity has also been practised in the DPRK since the 19th century, primarily in the form of Roman Catholicism. The country’s severe policy of religious suppression has resulted in groups of churchgoers going mainly undetected, as believers cannot openly express their faith in public. There is evidence that the practice of Christianity is still active within North Korea, however, there exists concern over the status of many churches, as some have been destroyed in recent years.
North Korea is also home to a strong tradition of Confucianism, incorporating cultural aspects of Confucianism, such as ancestor worship and moral values, into their day-to-day lives. The Kim dynasty, who have ruled the DPRK since 1948, have long promoted the adherence to Confucian principles. For example, Kim Il-sung, the first leader of DPRK, attended a Confucian school as a child and even adopted elements of Confucianism into his state ideology, Juche.
A further key feature of North Korean religious culture is the practice of Buddhism. Arising out of Chinese Buddhism, Korean Buddhism also developed, although it has been heavily suppressed in the DPRK since its founding. Despite this, many people have adopted Buddhist beliefs and practices, including aspects such as vegetarianism, meditation and the worship of Buddha.
North Korea is a highly mysterious country and many aspects of the DPRK are unknown to the outside world. Religion within North Korea is no different, as the country is heavily regulated and it is unknown how many citizens actually practice different faiths. All that can be concluded is that within North Korea, a selection of varied and diverse religions are present and are upheld to different extents.
Juche Religion: The Heart Of North Korea
Juche religion, also known as Juche Shinto, is the national state ideology of North Korea and has been upheld in the country since 1949. It is however a distinctively North Korean faith and is considered by many to be a pseudo-religion. Rather than being a religion in the traditional sense, Juche is an ideology focused on absolute loyalty to the North Korean government.
At the heart of Juche is the belief in self-reliance, particularly in the form of societal autonomy. It places a heavy emphasis on the worker and poverty-stricken; that the only way the DPRK may prosper is through the labour of its people. Further emphasis is placed on DPRK’s anti-western sentiment, with self-reliance cited as the only way North Korea can combat imperialistic oppression.
Juche is primarily intended to order North Korean life and tie citizens’ allegiance to the ruling regime. As a result, Juche incorporates many Korean Shintoistic features, where citizens are meant to venerate their leaders as divine figures. Juche also involves ancestor worship, as citizens are encouraged to pay homage to the deeds of their forefathers and to evoke the memory of their nation’s triumphant rise.
The role of Juche in North Korean society has diminished since its peak in the 1980s, however it remains a powerful presence in the country. North Koreans are expected to understand and comply with the ideals of Juche, as the government has indicated it is the only way the DPRK can survive. It holds a unique place in the nation’s religious make up, as it is not strictly a religion, but serves as a focal point of the nation’s beliefs and a cornerstone of loyalty.
Religious Persecution In North Korea
The DPRK is abysmal in its treatment of religious belief systems, as practice of any faith not sanctioned by the government is heavily suppressed. Members of religions such as Christian or Sang Rok are viewed as supremely suspicious and may face varying forms of maltreatment such as detention, torture, imprisonment and even death. Religion deemed by the government as a detriment to their authority is not tolerated.
Religious groups such as churches form a danger to the DPRK as they form communities which bring together large numbers of people, potentially resulting in anti-government sentiment. As a result people practicing faith of any kind do so secretly, as unauthorisedreligious activities are heavily punished and tracked. It is estimated that up to 70,000 individuals are currently imprisoned in North Korea for crimes related to their religious practices.
While the religions of North Korea are diverse and varied, their practice is largely suppressed and it cannot be completely known how many citizens practise different faiths. It is known, however, that those who do are subject to immense persecution. As a result, they are forced to practice in the utmost secrecy, facing fear and dread of the unknown.
Religious Freedom In North Korea
Although the Korean peninsula is currently divided into North and South, certain aspects of life in each remain linked. This is particularly true in regards to the fight for religious freedom in the region. In South Korea, freedom of religion is a fundamental right, enshrined in the constitution, with a range of faiths being welcome for adherents to follow. In contrast, religious freedom in South Korea is incredibly limited, with Christians and other faith members facing the possibility of intense persecution.
In recent years, North Korean refugees have come together in South Korea and have begun to fight for the freedom of religion in DPRK. Called the ‘Umbrella Movement’, these citizens are campaigning for religious practices to be welcomed and celebrated in North Korea, to the extent that religious and social rights activists abroad have joined in the movement. These activists believe that religious freedom in the DPRK is paramount, and under the right conditions, is achievable.
The Umbrella Movement has received some international attention, and while the small country of DPRK remains largely unknown to outside world, the campaign to free its citizens of religious persecution has resonated with many, creating international dialogue and bringing attention to the plight of North Korean dissidents. While outside help is limited, it is being recognised that freedom of religion should become a fundamental right in the DPRK.
Faiths Of The DPRK In Other Countries
Freedom of religions in the DPRK does not only affect life within the country, but also in neighbouring nations. North Korean refugees have brought these faiths into neighbouring countries such as China, Japan and South Korea. These former citizens have brought their ancient faiths from home and have started communities, uniting North Koreans from around the world under the shared identity of their beliefs.
Christianity, for example, is widespread in South Korea, where ‘Hananim’ churches have been established to welcome North Korean believers into their congregation. Prayers have been said in Japanese churches for North Korean Christians, to keep them safe and the churches provide shelter and adequate welfare to those in need.
Confucianism too has spread among Korean populations in other countries, with various Confucius Institutes and academies opening in South Korea, Japan and China. These centres promote peace, learning and understanding between nations, as well as attempting to promote the continued study of Confucian ideology as well as other ancient faiths.
The spread of these religions outside of the DPRK has resulted in a unique network of support and understanding between North and South Koreans. While freedom of religion in DPRK remains limited, the faith systems which have been exported to other parts of the world ensure that those who live outside of the country have access to their ancient beliefs, uniting North Koreans from around the globe.
Religion In North Korea: An Uncertain Future
Freedom of religions in DPRK remains contentious, with little known of life in the secretive nation. It is known, however, that a range of faiths are present in DPRK, with Animism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity all being upheld to various extents.
It is also well known, however, that religious freedom within the nation is not fully respected, with non-denominational faiths such as Juche religion being encouraged in public and other faiths being suppressed in private. Refugees fleeing the country have helped bring attention to this issue, and allowed for the continuity of many faiths of the DPRK in other nations.
In the future, it is uncertain what religious make up of the DPRK will be. What is certain, however, is that religious freedom must be upheld, and that North Koreans should have the right to practice the faith of their choice in the country of their birth, free from fear or punishment.
