According to the study, Korean Americans are nearly twice as likely to identify as Christian compared to Korean Americans. Only 32% of Koreans identify as Christian, compared to 59% of Korean Americans.
Religious differences are a matter of faith, but they also reflect broader cultural and social differences shaped by immigration and the unique challenges of life as a minority community in the United States.
The religious landscape of Milwaukee’s Korean American population mirrors national findings. According to local statistics, more than 60 percent of Korean Americans living in Milwaukee are active members of a Christian church, contributing to Milwaukee’s rich and diverse spiritual culture.
Although Milwaukee’s Korean American population is relatively small, it has a strong Christian presence, with several active Korean churches that serve not only as places of worship but also as centers for cultural and social gatherings. There are.
Korean Americans in Milwaukee are actively involved in Christian congregations, with high levels of participation consistent with national trends. For many in Milwaukee’s Korean American community, the church is more than just a religious institution; it is a cornerstone of cultural identity and social support.
The historical context of Korean immigration to the United States is key to understanding the religious identity of Korean Americans. After the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which eliminated country-of-origin quotas, a significant number of Koreans immigrated to the United States, many of them Christians.
These immigrants often found strong church networks in their new countries that provided not only spiritual comfort but also practical support as they adjusted to life in America. Things were no different in Milwaukee.
The city’s Korean American community began to grow significantly in the 1970s, and the church was one of the first institutions established by immigrants. The church quickly became the center of the community, offering religious services, English classes, employment assistance, and other forms of support. Over time, these institutions grew and expanded, serving both first-generation immigrants and their U.S.-born children and grandchildren.
Milwaukee’s strong church-based community structure stands in contrast to Korea’s religious experience, which includes Buddhism, Confucianism, shamanism, and a growing number of religiously unaffiliated people.
The United States, and especially Milwaukee, provided a unique environment for Christianity to flourish among Korean immigrants, in part because of its existing Christian infrastructure and the central role religion played in the lives of many immigrants. .
South Korea has a large Christian population compared to other Asian countries, as the religion spread during a period of great social and political change. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as Korea faced external pressures and sought to modernize, Christian missionaries provided education, health care, and social services along with religion.
Christianity also became associated with resistance to Japanese colonial rule and the fight for independence. However, after the Korean War, the country’s religious landscape changed dramatically.
North Korea’s communists banned most Christian practices and replaced traditional beliefs and rituals with Juche, an official state ideology that combines Marxism, self-reliance, and worship of the nation’s first leader, Kim Il-sung. Ta. In South Korea, the fight against communism and American aid for postwar reconstruction increased the popularity of Christianity.
For many South Korean Christians, the hope for unification with North Korea is not just a political aspiration, but also a deeply held religious belief. However, this once widespread dream is increasingly at odds with the opinions of younger generations.
A 2017 survey by Korea’s Institute for National Unification (KINU) found that an overwhelming 71.2% of Koreans in their 20s oppose unification. The majority of the population, approximately 58%, still supported the idea of Korean reunification. As of the 2024 survey, support for unification had continued to decline, with only 52.9% of respondents believing it was necessary. This was one of the lowest levels recorded in the past 10 years.
The change in perspective among young Koreans is not without reason. Practically speaking, the challenges are enormous. North Korea remains an impoverished totalitarian state, while South Korea has developed into a rich and democratic society. Bridging the political gap between North and South seems nearly impossible, especially now that Kim Jong Un’s regime has tightened its grip on power.
The financial burden of unification is equally difficult. After decades of hard work and sacrifice, many South Koreans are understandably reluctant to risk the prosperity they have gained to support North Korea’s poorer neighbor.
As the years pass and memories of a unified Korea fade, the vision of unification may become more of a relic than a realistic goal. For now, the majority still holds out this hope, especially within the Korean Christian community. However, the numbers tell a different story, and the dream of a single Korea may be gradually fading away.
One of the most important roles played by the Korean American Church in Milwaukee is the preservation of cultural heritage. In cities with small Korean-American populations, churches are essential to maintaining a connection to Korean culture. They provide a place for younger generations, many of whom were born and raised in the United States, to pass on their Korean language, customs, and values.
Korean American churches in Milwaukee often hold services in both Korean and English to accommodate both older immigrants and younger U.S.-born congregants. A bilingual approach helps bridge the generation gap and allows younger members of the community to stay connected to their cultural roots.
In addition to religious services, Korean American churches host cultural events, language classes, and Korean holiday celebrations, all of which play an important role in keeping Korean traditions alive in Milwaukee. is playing.
A focus on cultural preservation is especially important for second- and third-generation Korean Americans, who may have less exposure to Korean culture in their daily lives. Through the church, they can learn about their traditions, participate in cultural events, and maintain connections with their ancestral homeland.
The religious practices of Korean Americans in Milwaukee are also very different from those of Korean Americans in South Korea. Although Christianity is the main religion in South Korea, it does not have the same cultural dominance that it does among Korean Americans in the United States.
Part of this difference is due to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Korean immigrants in the United States, where religion often serves as an important support system in a foreign land. In South Korea, the religious landscape has a longer tradition and is more diverse.
Pew Research also highlighted how Korean American Christians and Korean Christians perceive the importance of religion in their lives. According to the study, 87% of Korean American Christians say religion is important in their lives, similar to 82% of Korean Christians. However, Korean American Christians are much more likely to say religion is “very important” to them (58% vs. 39%).
Korean Americans born in South Korea were about twice as likely to be Christian than to be non-religious (63% vs. 31%). By comparison, U.S.-born Korean Americans were almost evenly split between Christians and independents (47% vs. 45%). The growing awareness of the importance of religion among Korean Americans in Milwaukee can be attributed to the unique role that religion plays in the immigrant experience.
The influence of the Milwaukee church extends beyond the Korean American community itself. Korean American churches contribute to the city’s broader religious and cultural landscape and offer unique perspectives that enrich the city’s diversity.
Through outreach programs, cultural events, and community service, the Korean American church has established itself as an important institution within the broader Milwaukee community. We also work with other religious and civic organizations to address issues such as poverty, homelessness, education, and social justice.
According to the Pew Research Center’s 2022-23 Asian American Survey, 66% of Korean American adults are immigrants from South Korea and 26% were born in the United States.
Pew Research Center states that “religion plays an important role in the lives of Korean Americans, shaping their identity and providing a sense of belonging.” In Milwaukee, that role is especially evident in the vibrant Korean American church that serves as a spiritual and cultural hub.
