South Korea has a long history of religious observance. Buddhism was introduced in 372 and currently has nearly 11 million adherents worshiping in tens of thousands of temples. Confucianism became the state ideology during the Joseon Dynasty which lasted from 1392 to 1910 but while listed as a religion, is more of an ethical way of thinking and living (but has had profound influence on Korean society).
Roman Catholicism came to Korea in the late 18th century following the baptism of one of the “elite” on a visit to China. Catholics faced significant persecution during the Joseon Dynasty (making Korea the 4th largest contributor of saints) but grew rapidly following the end of the Korean War and now claims over 5 million members.
Protestant Christianity came to Korea with Christian missionaries from North America in the late 19th century. Much of the appeal of the Protestant Church in Korea came from significant investment in schools and hospitals. Today, Protestants comprise about 18% of the population of South Korea, nearly 9 million members.
Combining members of Protestantism and Catholicism nets a total of nearly 15 million members or over half of the population claiming religious adherence, making Christianity the largest faith group in South Korea.
This graphs shows percentages of South Koreans who identify with a particular faith group. It does not include the nearly half of the population who say they are “non-religious.” Thus, percentages are of those who identify with some religion, not of the population as a whole.
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A short trip through nearly any part of Korea will reveal evidence of South Korea’s religious nature. Driving through most any town you’ll often see a steeple or gold Buddha. Here are a few pictures of some of the churches and temples I have seen in my travels:
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A large modern-Gothic church beside I-1 just inside the Seoul toll gate.A Christian church in Seoul near Yongsan-gu.A Buddhist Temple in Suwon.A Church of the Nazarene in Pyeongtaek.A large Presbyterian church in Suwon.
A Buddhist Temple in Suwon.
The Buddha at a Buddhist Temple in Suwon.
A Christian church in Pyeongtaek.A Buddhist Temple between businesses down a small street in Suwon.
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The religious preference chart and some of the information in this post came from http://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Korean-Life/Religion.
Some other information came from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/08/why-catholicism-important-korea-201481717037383818.html.
Sometimes driving in other countries is easy, sometimes not so much. One of the most difficult aspects are the road signs and sometimes the signs are so different from what we’re accustomed to that they’re difficult to understand. If you don’t know the language, you have to do your best to understand them based on the diagrams or pictures on the sign, context of their placement and what other cars are doing; but sometimes those translations can be pretty comical.
There are many sign “banks” like these at intersections. The traffic lights just aren’t long enough to read them all (even if I could read the language!).I assume this is a maximum and minimum speed limit sign, thinking weight has something to do with it…Highway direction signs are pretty clear-cut, at least when they also have English.…though those directions can get more complicated……and sometimes, really complicated (especially without English).Others you can kind of figure out. While this seems to be each of the lanes, what each lane designation means is unknown to me. That green arrow must mean something.There’s that green arrow again. It seems to correspond with lighted green arrows in the right lane, which sometimes have a red “X.” Pretty clear that lane is sometimes usable, sometimes not.You need to be careful here. If you eat while you fuel your car, you may need First Aid!Or worse, if you eat while you fuel your car here, you’ll get really bad gas which could distract other drivers!This must be a popular site, the police enforce photography.I guess all Korean policeman aren’t stellar. In this area, their enforcement is just “average”!This picture isn’t very good, but it’s a sad commentary on melting snowmen becoming rain.It appears that you are required to unplug your car before traveling on this road.Yellow cars are headed for the most excitement!Do not dress alike and smile…or travelers are required to dress alike and be happy? Or it applies only if you wear green seat belts…Not a sign, but I’d sure hate this job!Wait, huh?Oh, these guys aren’t real…Or are they?
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Do you have a better caption for any of these? Leave it in a comment!
Outside of combat, it is not all that often when a Soldier in a unit dies. The exceptions are unfortunate, but demand that the unit properly and respectfully honor that Soldier. The options for the unit are essentially two: a Memorial Service or a Memorial Ceremony. The difference in the two are basically that a Memorial Service is religious in nature, while a Memorial Ceremony is patriotic in nature. A Memorial Service, being a religious service, cannot be required attendance for Soldiers, but since a Memorial Ceremony is basically patriotic (though with religious elements) the Soldiers of the unit can be required to attend, though in most circumstances the majority of the unit will want to be a part of the ceremony honoring their fallen comrade even when not required.
This week, a battalion in my brigade had the opportunity to honor a Soldier who was involved in an automobile accident. This Soldier was proficient and well-liked, so his loss was deeply felt by the unit, especially those in the deceased Soldier’s section. The Memorial Ceremony was an opportunity not only to honor the Soldier who died but also to give an opportunity for the unit to grieve together and begin to heal from their loss.
Here are some pictures from the Memorial Ceremony:
Prior to the ceremony, the participants have several rehearsals to ensure a near-flawless ceremony. At the podium is the battalion chaplain.The Memorial Stand is set with a rifle, helmet, boots and dog tags. The Soldiers’ final award and photo are also on display.A small display was set up at the rear of the auditorium.The FRG provided a hospitality room for the father and close friends.There was a good turnout from the unit as well as from sister units. There was also great support by chaplains and chaplain assistants from this post and others. At the podium in this picture is the battalion commander, the first of several of the Soldier’s leaders and friends who eulogized the deceased Soldier.The battalion chaplain shares a message of hope.
Following the “Last Roll Call,” the Honor Guard firing squad provides a 21-gun salute.
Upon completion of the 21-gun salute, the bugler plays Taps, out of sight of those in the ceremony, but where he can be heard by them. This isn’t the best of videos, but it shows the honor rendered to the fallen Soldier. This bugler did an excellent job.
At the end of the ceremony, participants and attendees have the opportunity to offer respects and render honors for the fallen Soldier at the Memorial Stand.Respects are paid in different ways. Most salute, some give coins, others offer a prayer.The rank of the deceased and those who honor him/her are irrelevant. Here a Command Sergeant Major, Colonel and Major General render honors to the fallen Private First Class.By the time everyone had rendered honors, there was quite a collection of coins, patches and notes that will be sent to the Soldiers next-of-kin.
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While Memorial Ceremonies are not usually attended by family members, sometimes they are. This ceremony had the Soldier’s father in attendance. A video of the ceremony will also be sent to the other family members as a remembrance of the Soldiers honorable service and to show how the unit honored that service and the memory of the Soldier.
Memorial Ceremonies and Services are not only an effort to honor the fallen Soldier but also to provide an opportunity for the unit -often the Soldier’s closest friends- to remember, memorialize and honor their friend and comrade. Additionally, they give an opportunity for those Soldiers to grieve their loss and begin to heal and recover. This ceremony, with the remembrances shared by the unit leadership and friends and the message by the chaplain, went a long way toward bringing this healing to the unit’s Soldiers.
The U.S. forces in Korea have a large number of KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to U.S. Army) Soldiers working with us. The chaplain’s offices often have a KATUSA assigned to them. In my brigade, we have a KATUSA as part of the BDE UMT and one of our battalions also has a KATUSA. These KATUSAs are doing a 2-year tour of duty with about 18 months of it on assignment with us. They receive their rank based on time-in-service. My KATUSA was recently promoted to corporal and the battalion KATUSA was just promoted to sergeant. To help him celebrate his promotion, we went to Dino Prime Meat Bar in Pyeongtaek, a great meat buffet. Here’s some pictures:
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Dino Prime Meat Bar in Pyeongtaek.
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A large assortment of meats are in a refrigerated case where you select what you want then take to your table to cook.
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A variety of raw cuts of beef and pork, some marinated (no dinosaur, though). All of it looks good (at least if you’re a carnivore)!
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Each table has it’s own grill (and exhaust flue) and you’re brought a variety of “sides” to eat with your meat.
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This particular Dino only has seating on the floor…not very comfortable for old guys like me! This is some of my chaplains and assistants.
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Here’s another of my chaplains and 3 KATUSAs (also on the floor!).
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I gave the newly-promoted KATUSA a choice of a cross to wear around his neck or a cross on a key chain (both made and donated by my nephew).
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He chose the one with the leather string to wear so I “officially” presented it to him as congratulations for his promotion.
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Here’s a very Korean-looking street of Pyeongtaek on the way to Dino Prime Meat Bar
Chaplain News from the Front 