Young South Koreans are increasingly drawn to Buddhism via social media
SEOUL (AP) — A South Korean deejay dressed as a Buddhist monk bounced up and down on stage while playing electronic music and shouting: “This too shall pass!” The performance brought cheers from a crowd of thousands at an annual lantern-lighting festival over the weekend to celebrate the Buddha’s birthday.
Religious belief in South Korea has been on the decline for years. In 2021, just 22% of South Koreans in their 20s identified as religious, compared to 45% in 2004, according to a Gallup poll. But that might be changing as social media fuels an uptick in interest in Buddhism among young people.
The festival DJ, Youn Sung Ho, is a significant contributor to this trend. Youn, who is also a comedian, said he has received much support from the younger generations, especially Millennials and Gen Z, for his Buddhist monk alter ego, whom he calls NewJeansNim.