Christmas carols are ‘a deadly weapon’, claim South Korean Buddhists

Julian Ryall
·2 min read
South Koreans wear Santa Claus outfits and hold gifts to promote Christmas at a charity event on December 23, 2011 in Seoul, South Korea - Getty Images
South Koreans wear Santa Claus outfits and hold gifts to promote Christmas at a charity event on December 23, 2011 in Seoul, South Korea - Getty Images

Christmas carols are “a deadly weapon,” according to a Buddhist association in South Korea that is suing the government to stop it subsidising the playing of the songs.

The ministry of culture announced it would spend a billion won (£638,000) encouraging commercial radio stations and public spaces - including shopping centres, cafes, and restaurants - to play the Christmas tunes over the coming weeks.

Strengthened copyright laws have led to carols fading from public places in recent years, prompting complaints that Christmas no longer feels festive. The ministry said it was hoping to promote Christmas cheer after a challenging year.

However, the Association of Korean Buddhist Orders wants to put a stop to the merry-making, saying it was “astonished” by the campaign.

“The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which should be fair and impartial in policies regarding religion, is leading a Chrisitan missionary project on the pretence of comforting people”,the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism said in a statement.

“If the songs, which some people are uncomfortable about, are played continuously through the media, it turns into a deadly weapon and is nothing more than pollution”, the largest sect in the country added.

A buddhist believer wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus (COVID-19), as she pray during a birthday of Buddha and service to pray for overcoming the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at Jogyesa Temple on April 30, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea - Chung Sung-Jun
A buddhist believer wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus (COVID-19), as she pray during a birthday of Buddha and service to pray for overcoming the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic at Jogyesa Temple on April 30, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea - Chung Sung-Jun

The ministry has responded to the complaint by saying that it did not favour any religion over any other.

According to government statistics, more than half of South Koreans say they follow no religion. Of a population of some 52 million, around 10 million are Protestant, eight million are Buddhist, and four million are Catholic.