Roman Catholicism in North Korea
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Church in North Korea
is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
.
It is impossible to know the exact number of Roman Catholics in North Korea, or to establish a worthy estimate, as being Roman Catholic, or any Christian, in North Korea is a crime akin to treason. It is reported unofficially that more than 50,000 Roman Catholics are imprisoned there. Those that confess to being Christians are executed or sent to forced labor camps. It is reported that a North Korean General converted and was executed. Christianity in North Korea is largely based as an underground movement, receiving missionaries from southern China. Until 2005, the North Korean government had been lax in arresting and punishing Christians. However, recently, Kim Jong Il has renewed efforts to exterminate Christianity from North Korea, fearing that it might usurp Juche, the official "religion" of North Korea.
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
.
It is impossible to know the exact number of Roman Catholics in North Korea, or to establish a worthy estimate, as being Roman Catholic, or any Christian, in North Korea is a crime akin to treason. It is reported unofficially that more than 50,000 Roman Catholics are imprisoned there. Those that confess to being Christians are executed or sent to forced labor camps. It is reported that a North Korean General converted and was executed. Christianity in North Korea is largely based as an underground movement, receiving missionaries from southern China. Until 2005, the North Korean government had been lax in arresting and punishing Christians. However, recently, Kim Jong Il has renewed efforts to exterminate Christianity from North Korea, fearing that it might usurp Juche, the official "religion" of North Korea.
See also
- Religion in KoreaReligion in KoreaReligion in Korea encompasses a number of different traditions. Traditional Buddhism, Mugyo with a background of Korean Confucianism and later Christianity all play a role in Korea's religious tradition...
- Religion in North KoreaReligion in North KoreaTraditionally Religion in North Korea primarily consists of Buddhism and Confucianism and to a lesser extent Korean shamanism and syncretic Chondogyo. Since the arrival of Europeans in the 18th century, there is a Christian minority...
- Christianity in KoreaChristianity in KoreaThe practice of Christianity in Korea revolves around two of its largest branches, Protestantism and Catholicism, accounting for 8.6 million and 5.1 million members respectively. Roman Catholicism was first introduced during the late Joseon Dynasty period...
- Roman Catholicism in South KoreaRoman Catholicism in South KoreaThe Roman Catholic Church in South Korea is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. The history of Catholicism in Korea began in 1784 when Yi Sung-hun was baptized while in China under the Christian name of Peter...