The most striking change in the history of religion in the 20Th century was the growth of the movement for interreligious dialogue, accompanied by the development of the theory of religious pluralism. These movements for interreligious dialogue and cooperation in the world and in Asia have influenced Korean society with its diverse religions. In the background is the fact that under the Japanese colonial rule the religious leaders of Korea cooperated to play a key role in the independence movement, especially the March First Movement in 1919. In October 1965, interreligious dialogue movement in South Korea was started from the Yongdangsan Hotel meeting. But this movement got into stride and led to a new form of interfaith cooperation after the third ACRP general assembly held in Seoul in 1986. After the third ACRP general assembly in Seoul KCRP is comprised of the heads and high clergies of seven religions in Korea. It aims to promote exchanges and mutual understanding among people of different religions and to accomplish a better society by studying and carrying out common tasks. Furthermore, it hopes to contribute to world peace by sincerely working together with members of different religions outside of Korea. Since 1994, when the Korean government asked KCRP to organize the Seminar of Religious Leaders, a dialogue meeting between the government and the heads of religious communities has been held each year. As Korean society has gradually become more open, religious leaders have come to be seen as some of the most important opinion leaders, and this too has animated the interreligious dialogue. Since 1998, South Korean religions have used the more friendly term of ‘neighborhood religion’ in talking about one another, instead of the expression ‘the other religion’. This is intended to give a warmer quality to the interreligious dialogue here in Korea. KCRP has organized lecture programs to help educate youth as well as religious leaders for a better understanding of neighborhood religions. The Peace Camp for Youth with Religion and the Cultural Festival for Youth with Religious Faith are important annual programs designed to bring about deeper changes among the young and their attitude toward religion. In recent years Christian churches and Buddhist temples have exchanged greetings on each other’s holy days like X-MAS and Buddha’s Birthday. It shows that the spirit of interreligious dialogue and peaceful co-existence have effectively spread among even the local clergy and lay faithful. The history of interfaith cooperation is not so long in Korea, but now it is developing in response to efforts to overcome the division of the nation and to accomplish the reconciliation and unity of the Korean people. In fact, the energy of religious organizations devoted to the struggle for democracy in the 1970-80s is now being directed into the movement for national reunification, and the religions are naturally playing a major role in the efforts for the peace and reunification of the divided Korean Peninsula. To conclude the interreligious dialogue in South Korea is expected to continue to develop, with the active participation of all seven major religions, beyond the ecumenism between the various Christian communities. This could lead the nation along the road toward the reunification of the two Koreas through common efforts for peace and reconciliation.

The most striking change in the history of religion in the 20Th century was the growth of the movement for interreligious dialogue, accompanied by the development of the theory of religious pluralism. These movements for interreligious dialogue and cooperation in the world and in Asia have influenced Korean society with its diverse religions. In the background is the fact that under the Japanese colonial rule the religious leaders of Korea cooperated to play a key role in the independence movement, especially the March First Movement in 1919. In October 1965, interreligious dialogue movement in South Korea was started from the Yongdangsan Hotel meeting. But this movement got into stride and led to a new form of interfaith cooperation after the third ACRP general assembly held in Seoul in 1986. After the third ACRP general assembly in Seoul KCRP is comprised of the heads and high clergies of seven religions in Korea. It aims to promote exchanges and mutual understanding among people of different religions and to accomplish a better society by studying and carrying out common tasks. Furthermore, it hopes to contribute to world peace by sincerely working together with members of different religions outside of Korea. Since 1994, when the Korean government asked KCRP to organize the Seminar of Religious Leaders, a dialogue meeting between the government and the heads of religious communities has been held each year. As Korean society has gradually become more open, religious leaders have come to be seen as some of the most important opinion leaders, and this too has animated the interreligious dialogue. Since 1998, South Korean religions have used the more friendly term of ‘neighborhood religion’ in talking about one another, instead of the expression ‘the other religion’. This is intended to give a warmer quality to the interreligious dialogue here in Korea. KCRP has organized lecture programs to help educate youth as well as religious leaders for a better understanding of neighborhood religions. The Peace Camp for Youth with Religion and the Cultural Festival for Youth with Religious Faith are important annual programs designed to bring about deeper changes among the young and their attitude toward religion. In recent years Christian churches and Buddhist temples have exchanged greetings on each other’s holy days like X-MAS and Buddha’s Birthday. It shows that the spirit of interreligious dialogue and peaceful co-existence have effectively spread among even the local clergy and lay faithful. The history of interfaith cooperation is not so long in Korea, but now it is developing in response to efforts to overcome the division of the nation and to accomplish the reconciliation and unity of the Korean people. In fact, the energy of religious organizations devoted to the struggle for democracy in the 1970-80s is now being directed into the movement for national reunification, and the religions are naturally playing a major role in the efforts for the peace and reunification of the divided Korean Peninsula. To conclude the interreligious dialogue in South Korea is expected to continue to develop, with the active participation of all seven major religions, beyond the ecumenism between the various Christian communities. This could lead the nation along the road toward the reunification of the two Koreas through common efforts for peace and reconciliation.

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interreligious dialogue, religious pluralism, interfaith cooperation, KCRP, WCRP, ACRP, peaceful co-existence of religions, reconciliation