Hangang-Ilbo (February 14, 2025)
Despite the constitutional guarantee of basic human rights, social discrimination against certain religious groups continues to persist.
Trump’s second administration pledges to “defend religious freedom around the world”—global attention is now focused on the issue.
Original article in Korean here
As U.S. President Donald Trump’s second-term administration has declared its intention to defend religious freedom worldwide, the issue has sparked controversy, particularly in light of frequent violations of religious freedom in South Korea.
Article 20(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea states, “All citizens shall have freedom of religion.” As such, religious freedom is a fundamental human right enshrined in the Constitution, ensuring that every individual has the right to choose and practice their faith freely. However, in reality, many cases of religious discrimination persist against certain religious groups, raising concerns.
The Trump administration recently affirmed its strong commitment to defending religious freedom on a global scale. This statement comes at a time when religious persecution and discrimination remain pressing issues in the international community. According to the World Journal, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance made significant remarks on religious freedom during the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2025, held at the Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., on May 5 (local time).
“Promoting religious freedom was one of the most important foreign policy priorities of the Trump administration’s first term,” Vice President J.D. Vance stated, emphasizing the need to distinguish between nations that uphold religious freedom and those that do not when shaping policy. “The second Trump administration is committed to building on our past achievements and further advancing religious freedom by combating religious persecution,” he added.
On June 6 (local time), President Donald Trump announced plans to establish a commission on religious freedom, a task force to combat anti-Christian bigotry, and a faith office within the White House, Yonhap News reported on June 7.
Trump, who survived an assassination attempt in July of last year while campaigning for re-election, reflected on the incident, saying, “It was God who saved my life.” He added, “It changed something in me. I have always believed in God, but now my faith feels even stronger.”
As Trump’s second-term administration actively asserts its commitment to defending religious freedom worldwide, increased attention is being drawn to cases of religious discrimination in South Korea, including social prejudice and hostility toward certain religious groups.
Jihye Lee, reporter
