Significance and Roles of Religious Facilities for Japanese Migrants: A Case Study of Christian Churches in the Republic of Korea

Abstract

This study delves into community participation and retention in religious facilities. And it also analyzes the significance of these roles. It focuses on the interplay between religious activities in Protestant churches and the everyday lives of Japanese migrants in the Gyeonggi region of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Japanese migrants who attended church were categorized into two types: “lifestyle migrants” and “international students.” In particular, the “lifestyle migrants” include many international marriage migrants. Their participation in religious communities was shaped by both problems in their everyday lives and religious backgrounds. Most “lifestyle migrants” attended church for the first time in the ROK, considering it a place to build social relationships and communicate with fellow Japanese migrants during their early stages of migration. Conversely, most “international students” had previous church experience in Japan before migrating, perceiving church activities as an extension of their religious engagements prior to migrating to the ROK. Religious activities influence the social capital and ethnic identity of Japanese migrants. And the development of the religious communities among Japanese migrants in the Gyeonggi region is not only driven by church proselytizing efforts, but also influenced by various challenges arising from changes or divergences in the migration process, residential trends, and the aspirations and difficulties of local community activities. These findings elucidate the impact of religious activities on individual migrants, and also highlight the pivotal role of religion in migration studies and geography.