Religious Characteristics of North Korean Mourning and Funeral Culture
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This study explores the religious characteristics embedded in North Korea’s mourning and funeral culture. Although the state officially denies religion and promotes atheism, North Korean people continue to believe in the existence of the soul after death and hold funerals rooted in Confucian and shamanistic traditions. First, despite the regime’s ideological stance, shamanistic practices that aim to assist the spirits of ancestors are still observed. Second, the regime has simplified funerals in line with socialist customs, which has diminished traditional religious rites. However, as markets emerged and survival became a priority during crises such as the Arduous March, many people turned to shamanistic practices seeking fortune and blessings, which shifted their focus from the afterlife to the present life. Third, the concept of eternal life exists only for the political leaders, not for ordinary citizens, under the theory of the “socio-political organism,” thus turning the notion of immortality into a political tool for reinforcing loyalty. These findings show that even though North Korea officially denies spirituality, altered forms of religious behavior still appear in the way people conduct mourning and funeral rituals.
Abstract
This study explores the religious characteristics embedded in North Korea’s mourning and funeral culture. Although the state officially denies religion and promotes atheism, North Korean people continue to believe in the existence of the soul after death and hold funerals rooted in Confucian and shamanistic traditions. First, despite the regime’s ideological stance, shamanistic practices that aim to assist the spirits of ancestors are still observed. Second, the regime has simplified funerals in line with socialist customs, which has diminished traditional religious rites. However, as markets emerged and survival became a priority during crises such as the Arduous March, many people turned to shamanistic practices seeking fortune and blessings, which shifted their focus from the afterlife to the present life. Third, the concept of eternal life exists only for the political leaders, not for ordinary citizens, under the theory of the “socio-political organism,” thus turning the notion of immortality into a political tool for reinforcing loyalty. These findings show that even though North Korea officially denies spirituality, altered forms of religious behavior still appear in the way people conduct mourning and funeral rituals.