Understanding Neither Atheists Nor Religious: Religious Nones and Multiple Religious Believing in South Korea

Abstract

Using data from the 2024 Global East Survey of Religiosity and Spirituality collected across multiple East Asian countries, this study examines how religious identities and beliefs function as loosely coupled phenomena, particularly in South Korea. The analysis reveals substantial gaps between declared identities and actual beliefs, with multiple religious believing emerging as the dominant pattern. Individuals hold heterogeneous beliefs that diverge from their stated identities, particularly those identifying as neither atheist nor religious, who show receptivity to various teachings without exclusive affiliation. Buddhist identity shows the strongest association with multiple religious believing, encompassing Catholicism, Confucianism, and folk religion while excluding Protestantism. These patterns suggest that South Korean religiosity operates through flexible religious portfolios rather than exclusive commitments, reflecting a unique form of syncretism. The study underscores the importance of analytically distinguishing identity, belief, and practice when measuring religiosity, particularly where indigenous traditions function more as cultural repertoires than as institutional memberships.