South Koreans Show A Decreasing Trust In Religion, According To The Jogye Order Institute for The Study of Buddhism and Society

by Czarelli Tuason / Nov 10, 2015 06:36 PM EST

Pope Francis visits South Korea on August 2014 | By: Handout | Getty Images

According to Korea Times, more and more South Koreans are losing their trust in religion based on a recent study conducted by the Jogye Order Institute for the Study of Buddhism and Society.

To come up with the figures, the Jogye Order Institute surveyed 1,200 South Koreans aged 16 years and older. They have found that only 11.8 percent of the respondents trust in religion, down from last year's 25 percent.

The survey also revealed that the most trusted religion in the country is Catholicism at 38.9 percent, followed by Buddhism at 32.8 percent and Protestantism at 10.2 percent.

Among the clerics, priests were also shown to be the most trusted at 51.3 percent, followed by monks at 38.7 percent and pastors at 17 percent.

The Economist noted in their article on Aug. 12, 2014 that of the 50 million people in South Korea, around 5.4 million, or 10 percent, are Catholics. Buddhists account for 23 percent of the population, while 46 percent do not believe in religions.

A decreasing trend in religious faith has also been observed in the country with 56 percent claiming to be religious in 2005, dropping to 52 percent in 2012.

On a brighter note, the Jogye Order Institute's survey also revealed that 40.4 percent of the respondents believe that religion has increasingly influenced society, while 26.7 percent believed otherwise.

One of the problems with religion pointed out by the respondents is the lack of transparency in terms of finances, but generally believed that religions "take care of and comfort the weak and the suffering," noted International Business Times.

Pope Francis paid South Korea a visit last year on August as recognition to the growing significance of Asia to the Catholic Church. Protestants in South Korea, however, criticized the Catholic Church leader's visit pointing out Catholicism's harsh way of dealing with the 29 percent of the country who identify themselves as Christians.