Sikhism in South Korea South Korea
한국의 시크교
Sikh volunteer (left) with the 60th Indian Field Ambulance in Korea. Between them are British, New Zealand and Australian soldiers (Circa 1951)
Total population
550 estimate
Regions with significant populations
Seoul · Pocheon
Religions
Sikhism
Languages
Punjabi · Korean

Sikhism in South Korea (Korean: 한국의 시크교, romanized: hangug-ui sikeugyo) is a minority religion.

History

According to records, Sikhs have been in South Korea since the country gained independence from colonial Japanese rule.[1] Early Sikh pioneers came to the country as traders and businessmen exporting textiles in the country to India and the Middle East.[1] However, these early settlers were forced to return home due to strict residency laws at the time.[1] After the first settlement period, Sikh labourers began migrating to the country in the 1980's due to a lack of opportunities in their homeland.[2] Some Sikh families have been in the country for over 50 years.[1] The first South Korean gurdwara was established in 1998 in Sungri on rented property but it burnt down in a fire after one and a half years.[2] Thereafter, the local congregations gathered funds to buy another rental property, where a new gurdwara was officially established in 2004. There are about 550 Sikhs in South Korea, now recently the Sikhs in South were allowed to acquire South Korean citizenship.[3]

Interactions between ethnic Koreans and the new Sikh arrivals remains minimal because according to resident Akash Chodda, the native Koreans are not interested in learning about Sikhs nor their religion or culture.[4] Most of the community consists of men as it is mostly males who are immigrating to Korea.[4] A Sikh is employed as a professor at the University of Seoul.[2] Many Sikhs in the country have overstayed on their tourist visa and remain in the country until they marry locally for residency status or get deported by authorities.[2] Many of the male migrants date and marry local Korean women, who take kindly to their strong work ethic.[2] Religiosity is low amongst the Sikhs in the country and many are sehajdharis who do not observe keeping kesh (uncut hair).[2] Around 30 Sikhs in the country wear a dastar (turban).[2]

Occupations

Most Sikhs in the country are working in the agricultural, trading, corporate, and restaurant sectors.[2]

Gurdwaras

Current temples

  • Gurdwara Shri Singh Sabha, South Korea. It is located at Idonggyo-ri, Sohol-eup, Pocheon-si which is in the Gyeonggi-do province of South Korea.[5][4] Around 500 members of the community gather to worship at the temple regularly.[4] It is located across the street from the only Hindu temple in the country.[4] Some Hindus also worship at the temple, a sign of heterogeneous and fluid religious practice.[4] It is a two-storied complex at the address of Kyungki-Do, Pocheon-Si, Soheul-Eup-I (2), Dongkyori 202-1.[2] It was officially established on 21 November 2004.[2]
  • Another smaller gurdwara is located in Thungnan.[2]

Former temples

  • A gurdwara formerly located in Sungri was established in 1998 but it burnt down in a fire one and a half years later.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Singh, Rachbinder (2020-09-16). "한국의 다문화와 시크교---정당한 지위와 잠재력 인정 기대" [Multiculturalism and Sikhism in South Korea - Recognition of Rightful Status and Potential]. Korea IT Times (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-05-24. 비록 시크교가 처음 한국에 전파된 때를 정확히 말하기는 어렵지만, 최근까지의 기록에 따르면 한국이 일본의 식민지로 부터 독립한 직후부터 시크교도가 한국으로 이주했다고 기록되어 있다. 원래 이들은 인도와 중동 국가에 섬유 등을 수출하는 무역 및 기업인으로 한국에 왔으나, 당시 한국정부가 실시한 심각한 비자 제한조치로 인하여 결국 다시 인도로 돌아가야 했다.

    한국의 산업화가 진행되면서, 농업인구가 부족해지기 시작하자 시크교 농부들이 한국 농업 분야에서 일하게 되었고, 농촌지역에서는 그들이 매우 환영받았다고 한다. 짧은 기간동안에, 펀자비 시크교 농부들은 한국인들이 그들의 종교적 믿음을 매우 환영하고 지지한다는 것을 발견했다. 그렇게해서 그들은 한국에서 오랫동안 거주하기 시작했다. 어떤 시크교도 가족들은 한국에 50년 이상 정착해 있다. 하지만 심각한 문화적 편견 때문에 그들은 자신들의 종교를 공개적으로 실천할 수 없었고 낮은자세를 유지하고 싶어했다.

    Translation: Although it is difficult to say exactly when Sikhism first arrived in Korea, recent records indicate that Sikhs migrated to Korea shortly after the country gained its independence from Japan. Originally, they came to Korea as traders and businessmen exporting textiles to India and the Middle East, but were eventually forced to return to India due to severe visa restrictions imposed by the Korean government at the time.

    As South Korea industrialized and began to experience a shortage of agricultural workers, Sikh farmers were recruited to work in the agricultural sector and were very welcome in the rural areas. Within a short period of time, the Punjabi Sikh farmers found the Koreans to be very welcoming and supportive of their religious beliefs. As a result, they began to live in Korea for a long time. Some Sikh families have been settled in South Korea for more than 50 years. However, due to severe cultural prejudice, they could not practice their religion openly and preferred to keep a low profile.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Kahlon, Swarn Singh (2016). "Chapter 10 - Sikhism in South Korea: The Tourist Visa Overstayers". Sikhs in Asia Pacific: Travels among the Sikh Diaspora from Yangon to Kobe. Routledge. ISBN 9781351987400.
  3. ↑ Ahuja, Sanjeev K. (August 10, 2020). "Proud Moments: Sikhs in Korea now can acquire citizenship while keeping their articles of faith intact". Asian Community News. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hazzan, Dave (2015-04-22). "Temple home from home for Korea's Sikhs". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  5. ↑ Singh, Lakhvinder (August 13, 2020). "Multicultural Korea: Sikhism in Korea". Korea IT Times. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
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