Mixed Methods Research on the Change of Religion Occurring in the Army and Strategy on Military Missions

Abstract

This research was carried out in order to propose a strategy concerning the change of religion that occurs in the military in South Korea. The research was carried out from July of 2014 to March of 2016 over 4 intervals (of 6 months) with 362 Korean soldiers as the subjects. The research period began from when a soldier first arrived at the base as a private first class (PFC) and was carried out with a term of six months ever since for three more periods to observe other rank as well. This was done in order to have an overall understanding on the flow of the military and the changes that occur during the passage of time. There have been researches that were carried out in a more political sense, but researches that have utilized active soldiers as subjects are very few in numbers. Especially, on the topic of how the military missions are to approach the issue of change of religion, the research was poorly done. Therefore, this research has traced down soldiers over a period of two years for the data and analyzed the factors that have caused the change of religion. The research was carried out as a mixed methods research covering the quantity and quality. As the research result, the majority were soldiers who maintained no-religion or Christianity. A change from non-religious to Christianity or vice-versa was rare. In terms of quantitative research, the important factor in change from no-religion to Christianity turned out to be the percentage of Christian soldiers in that respective base and the amount of training being carried out. In terms of qualitative research, the important factor that brought the change from no-religion to Christianity turned out to be the comforting and optimistic environment of the base along with the bonding found in the church. Based on the findings from the above research, a military mission strategy was proposed.