They are more religious than their homeland counterparts.
Recent Pew Research Center data reveals a notable difference in religious affiliation between Korean Americans and South Koreans. According to the study released in August, Korean Americans are almost twice as likely to identify as Christians compared to adults in South Korea, with 59% versus 32%. The survey also shows that Korean Americans are less likely to be religiously unaffiliated (34% compared to 52% in South Korea) and less likely to follow Buddhism (3% versus 14%).
The researchers, Kelsey Jo Starr and Kirsten Lesage, attribute these differences to the religious backgrounds of South Korean immigrants who moved to the U.S. in recent decades. They suggest that migrants often relocate to countries where their faith is already prominent, and the U.S. is a major destination for Christian migrants.
The survey, which included data from Asian Americans in 2022 and 2023 and East Asian adults in 2023, also examined the origins of Korean Americans. It found that 66% of Korean Americans were born in South Korea, while 26% were born in the U.S. There is a significant contrast in religious affiliation between these two groups. Korean Americans born in South Korea are more likely to be Christian (63%) compared to being unaffiliated (31%), whereas U.S.-born Korean Americans are more evenly split between Christianity and religious unaffiliation (47% versus 45%).
Additionally, the survey highlights that 87% of Korean American Christians consider religion important in their lives, similar to the 82% of South Korean Christians who feel the same way. However, Korean American Christians are more inclined to view religion as “very important” (58%) compared to South Korean Christians (39%).
The study also reveals that South Korean Christians generally feel a stronger connection to other religions or philosophies than Korean American Christians. For instance, 58% of South Korean Christians report a personal connection to Confucianism, compared to 22% of Korean American Christians. Similarly, 34% of South Korean Christians feel connected to Buddhism, while 23% of Korean American Christians do.