RELIGIOUS CONVERSION AND A CONSTRUCTION OF NEW IDENTITY OF THE SOUTH KOREANS LIVING IN THAILAND

Abstract

This research aims to study factors and motivations that have influenced religious conversion among the South Koreans. This research also includes the further study of the change in religious identity among South Korean people after the religious conversion occurred. In addition, there has been the rising number of people around the world showing their interest in religious conversion especially the Christianity in European countries and USA, where their populations holding onto Christianity, were drastically reduced in numbers. At the same time, there has been a tendency of a larger Christian population in South Korea in which the major population was formerly Buddhists and non-religion. Moreover, the traditional religion like Confucianism has greatly influenced their ideologies, guided way of their living, and taken parts in establishing the Korean identity up to the present times. As the qualitative research, any related academic data was collected as well as the information gathered from in-depth interview sessions with Korean people living in Thailand. Accordingly, the obtained information became factored in order to approach the study analysis. From this study, it was found that the major factors and motivations of religious conversion among the Koreans in Thailand derived from social aspects and spiritual support of Christianity. Primarily, Christianity was first introduced to South Korea by offering help in various forms since the people underwent great difficulties during the post-war period and the country was divided. The Christian beliefs gradually spread throughout Korea and became part of the Korean society. Furthermore, Christianity had the potential to fulfill their needs and to provide the solutions best-suited to issues of the individuals. Regarding the emergence of religious change, it indicated that the conversion affected the identities in terms of behaviors, thoughts, beliefs, culture, tradition and lifestyles of Korean people living in Thailand.