Faith and Heritage: A Pew Research Center’s perspective on Korean American Christians in Milwaukee

EXPLORING KOREA: Stories from Milwaukee to the DMZ and across a divided Peninsula. This special series explores historical sites and cultural traditions from across the Korean Peninsula, building a bridge back to the search for identity in Milwaukee. From the occupation of Korea at the end of World War II, to Korean War veterans in Milwaukee, veterans from Milwaukee who served in later years at the DMZ, adopted South Korean children who grew up in Milwaukee, different waves of the South Korean diaspora who moved to Milwaukee to raise their families, and even a defector from North Korea, their stories share generations of Korean and American experiences. https://mkeind.com/koreanstories

Milwaukee has slowly evolved as a significant hub for Korean American communities in recent years, especially in the providence of religion. The local trend is reflective of broader national patterns, highlighted in a September study by the Pew Research Center.

According to the study, Korean Americans are almost twice as likely to identify as Christian compared to their counterparts in South Korea. While 59% of Korean Americans profess Christianity, only 32% of South Koreans do the same.

The religious contrast is a matter of belief, but it also reflects the broader cultural and societal differences shaped by migration and the unique challenges of life as a minority community in the United States.

The religious landscape of Milwaukee’s Korean American population mirrors the national findings. Local statistics indicate that over 60% of Korean Americans in Milwaukee are active members of Christian churches, contributing to the city’s rich and diverse spiritual culture.

Milwaukee’s Korean American population, though relatively small, has a robust Christian presence, with several active Korean churches that serve as places of worship and also as centers for cultural and social gatherings.

Korean Americans in Milwaukee are actively involved in Christian congregations, with a high level of participation that is consistent with the national trend. For many in Milwaukee’s Korean American community, the church is more than just a religious institution, it is a cornerstone of cultural identity and social support.

The historical context of Korean immigration to the United States is key to understanding the religious identities of Korean Americans. After the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which removed national origins quotas, a significant number of South Koreans migrated to the United States, many of whom were Christian.

These immigrants often found in their new country a strong network of churches that provided not only spiritual solace but also practical support for adjusting to life in America. In Milwaukee, the story was no different.

The city’s Korean American community began to grow significantly in the 1970s, with churches being among the first institutions established by the immigrants. The churches quickly became central to the community, offering religious services, English language classes, job placement assistance, and other forms of support. Over time, those institutions grew and expanded, serving both first-generation immigrants and their U.S.-born children and grandchildren.

The strong church-based community structure in Milwaukee contrasts with the religious experience in South Korea, where Buddhism, Confucianism, Shamanism, and a growing number of religiously unaffiliated individuals dominate the landscape.

The U.S., and Milwaukee specifically, offered a unique environment where Christianity could flourish among Korean immigrants, partly due to the existing Christian infrastructure and the central role that religion played in the lives of many of these immigrants.

South Korea has a large Christian population, and more so than other Asian countries, because the religion spread there during a time of significant social and political change. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as Korea faced outside pressures and sought modernization, Christian missionaries offered education, healthcare, and social services along with their religion.

Christianity also became associated with resistance to Japanese colonial rule and the fight for independence. But after the Korean War, the country’s religious landscape changed dramatically.

Communists in the North banned most Christian practices, replacing traditional beliefs and rituals with Juche, an official state ideology that mixes Marxism and self-reliance with veneration for Kim Il-Sung, the nation’s first leader. In South Korea, American support for the fight against Communism and its aid in postwar reconstruction boosted Christianity’s popularity.

For many South Korean Christians, the hope of reunification with North Korea is not just a political aspiration but a deeply held religious conviction. Yet, the once widespread dream has become increasingly at odds with the views of the younger generation.

The 2017 survey by South Korea’s Institute for National Unification (KINU) found that an overwhelming 71.2% of South Koreans in their twenties opposed reunification. While the majority of the population, around 58%, still supported the idea of a reunited Korea. As of the 2024 survey, support for reunification has continued to decline with only 52.9% of respondents believing that unification was necessary. That was one of the lowest levels recorded in the past decade.

The shift in perspective among younger South Koreans is not without reason. Pragmatically speaking, the challenges are immense. North Korea remains a poor, totalitarian state, while South Korea has flourished into a wealthy and democratic society. The political chasm between the two Koreas seems nearly impossible to bridge, especially with Kim Jong-un’s regime tightening its grip on power.

The economic burden of reunification is equally daunting. After decades of hard work and sacrifice, many South Koreans are understandably hesitant to jeopardize their well-earned prosperity to aid their impoverished neighbors in the North.

As the years pass and the memories of a unified Korea fade, the vision of reunification may become more of a relic than a realistic goal. For now, the majority still holds onto this hope, especially within the Korean Christian community. But the numbers tell a different story, the dream of a single Korea may be slowly slipping away.

One of the most significant roles that Korean American churches in Milwaukee play is the preservation of cultural heritage. In a city where the Korean American population is small, churches are vital for maintaining a connection to Korean culture. They provide a space where the Korean language, customs, and values can be passed down to younger generations, many of whom are born and raised in the United States.

Milwaukee’s Korean American churches often conduct services in both Korean and English, catering to both older immigrants and younger, U.S.-born members of the congregation. The bilingual approach helps bridge the generational gap, ensuring that the younger members of the community remain connected to their cultural roots.

In addition to religious services, Korean American churches host cultural events, language classes, and celebrations of Korean holidays, all of which play a crucial role in keeping Korean traditions alive in Milwaukee.

The focus on cultural preservation is particularly important for second and third-generation Korean Americans, who may have fewer opportunities to engage with Korean culture in their daily lives. Through the church, they can learn about their heritage, participate in cultural events, and maintain their connection to their ancestral homeland.

The religious practices of Korean Americans in Milwaukee also differ significantly from those of their counterparts in South Korea. While Christianity is a major religion in South Korea, it does not have the same level of cultural dominance that it does among Korean Americans in the United States.

The difference is partly due to the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Korean immigrants in the U.S., where religion often serves as a critical support system in a foreign land. In South Korea, the religious landscape has a longer heritage and is more diverse.

Pew Research also highlighted how Korean American Christians and South Korean Christians perceive the importance of religion in their lives. According to the study, 87% of Korean American Christians say religion is important in their lives, a similar share compared to 82% of South Korean Christians. However, Korean American Christians are also much more likely to say that religion is “very important” to them (58% vs. 39%).

Korean Americans who were born in Korea were about twice as likely to be Christian as to be religiously unaffiliated (63% vs. 31%). By comparison, Korean Americans who were born in the U.S. were roughly evenly split between Christians and the unaffiliated (47% vs. 45%). The heightened sense of religious importance among Korean Americans in Milwaukee can be attributed to the unique role that religion plays in the immigrant experience.

The impact of churches in Milwaukee extends beyond the Korean American community itself. Korean American churches contribute to the city’s broader religious and cultural landscape, offering a unique perspective that enriches the diversity of the city.

Through outreach programs, cultural events, and community service, Korean American churches have established themselves as important institutions within the wider Milwaukee community. They also work alongside other religious and civic organizations to address issues such as poverty, homelessness, education, and social justice issues.

Among Korean American adults, 66% are immigrants from Korea, while 26% are U.S. born, according to Pew Research Center’s 2022-23 survey of Asian Americans.

As the Pew Research Center noted, “Religion plays a critical role in the lives of Korean Americans, shaping their identity and providing a sense of belonging.” In Milwaukee, that role is particularly evident in the vibrant Korean American churches that serve as both spiritual and cultural hubs.