The Korea Institute for Christian Social Affairs (KICSA) has released a report on Protestant perceptions of major issues in Korean society, “2024 Protestant Perceptions of Major Social Issues: Multilayered Crisis in Korean Society,” has been published. The book compares the differences in perceptions between Protestants and non-Protestants in four areas: politics, religion, climate and ecology, and gender, and analyzes the nature of the multi-layered crisis facing Korean society.

Each year, the organization has selected a major social issue and its connection to the Protestant faith to examine the perceptions of Protestants and non-Protestants. In 2024, the study focused on issues shaping contemporary Korean society, including the government of Yoon Seok-yul and the political situation before the impeachment, religious change, the climate crisis, and gender conflict.

The research was commissioned by Korea Research and conducted through a web survey of 1,058 Protestants and 1,094 non-Protestants aged 18 and over nationwide. The sample was selected to reflect the October 2024 resident registration demographics, with a sampling error of ±3.0 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

This book is a joint research project by four theologians, Dr. Jinsoon Song (Lecturer, Department of Christianity, Ewha Womans University), Dr. Ik-Sang Shin (Professor, Graduate School of Theology, Anglican University), Dr. Kyung-Il Jung (Research Professor, Institute of Theological Studies, Anglican University), and Dr. Hyung-Mook Choi (Director, Third Age Christianity Research Institute).

The report analyzed the perceptions of Protestants and non-Protestants in four key areas: political society, religion, climate ecology, and social gender.

In the area of political society, the report compared the differences in perceptions between Protestants and non-Protestants, focusing on the evaluation of the Yoon administration, foreign policy, and the advent of the AI society. In particular, it pointed out that the conservatism of Protestants transcends political ideology, emphasizing the need for national sovereignty and social solidarity in the face of impeachment.

In the field of religion, we reflected on the role of Protestantism in an era of increasing de-religionization and de-churchization, and analyzed the spread of hatred and discrimination. It explored the reasons for the persistence of social and cultural conservatism in the Protestant faith and provided directions for future religious policies.

In the area of climate ecology, we analyzed the emotional reactions of Protestants and non-Protestants to the climate crisis and their attitudes toward government policies. It pointed out the contradictory attitude of recognizing the seriousness of the climate crisis but not taking action, and emphasized the environmental responsibility of Protestants.

In the area of socio-gender, the study found that gender inequality and gender conflict are key issues, in addition to job security and housing stability, to address the declining birthrate. He pointed out that the Protestant concept of the normal family is rigid, and sought the direction of social change needed in the era of the population cliff.

“We are passing through a very critical historical juncture, and if we do not properly grasp the causes of the crisis and find healthy alternatives, we will fall into an irreversible spiral,” said Dr. Seungmin Shin in the foreword, emphasizing that he hopes the research will serve as a step toward social reform and church renewal.

The book includes an overview of the research and its direction, as well as detailed findings in the areas of politics, religion, climate ecology, and gender. It also includes survey questions for both Protestants and non-Protestants, providing a detailed look at the research process.

The book is not for sale, and detailed findings and survey questions can be found on the article's website at https://jpic.org.

[News Source: Portal News (Gookak Times)]