The Catholic Church is the most credible religion in Korea, according to a recently published poll in a popular current affairs magazine.A wide-ranging survey recently conducted by the Sisain weekly showed that Catholicism came out on top as the most trusted religion, ucanews.com.
Asked “to select two credible religions in Korea,” 57.6 percent of respondents selected Catholicism followed by Buddhism with 50.0 percent, Protestantism with 26.4 percent and Won Buddhism, 6.2 percent.
Won Buddhism is a native Korean religion.
The survey was jointly conducted by the magazine and Media Research on Sept. 1-2 in telephone interviews with 1,000 people aged 19 and above.
In Seoul, Catholicism had an approval rating of 62.3 percent.
The Church also came out on top with every generation, especially those in their 50s who gave an overwhelming 66.3 percent approval rating.
Sisain said the increasing number of Catholics and the Church’s high profile stance on social issues such as its opposition to a controversial government river project increased its credibility.
“The Church made its voice heard on social issues that other could not say in the name of faith. That won people’s favor and that’s why the Church has become most credible religion in Korea,” said Peter Lee Young-sik, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea media team on Sept. 27.
“Also, the clean image of Catholic priests and Religious and the sacredness of the Church also won the peoples’ trust,” he said.
SIC: CTH/ASIA