Political-Religious Collusion
Overview
Political-religious collusion (政敎癒着, jeonggyoyuchak) refers to the phenomenon where political power and religious organizations or leaders improperly collude for mutual benefit. This occurs when religion, which should pursue transcendent values in the public sphere, is instrumentalized for political purposes, or when political power uses religion to secure legitimacy. Political-religious collusion violates the core democratic principle of separation of church and state (政敎分離, jeonggyobunri) and can undermine religious freedom and political neutrality. In Korean society, issues have particularly arisen when specific religious groups gain excessive access to political power or when politicians provide preferential treatment to gain support from religious leaders.
Main Content
Historical Background of Political-Religious Collusion
Political-religious collusion has existed since ancient times, becoming common after Christianity was established as the state religion of the Roman Empire, leading to a union of church and state. In medieval Europe, popes exercised authority higher than monarchs and were deeply involved in politics. In Korea, Confucianism functioned as a state ideology during the Joseon Dynasty, closely linking politics and religion; even after modernization, Christianity and Buddhism have maintained various relationships with political power. Particularly during the military regimes of the late 20th century, religious leaders frequently cooperated to legitimize the regime.
Types of Political-Religious Collusion
Political-religious collusion takes various forms. First, politicians may offer policy favors to gain support from specific religious groups—for example, providing tax exemptions or land-use permits to religious organizations in exchange for election campaign support. Second, religious leaders may endorse specific parties or candidates through political statements or directly participate in politics. Third, the state may officially support a particular religion or enforce religious values through law. All these types risk infringing on religious freedom and political neutrality.
Problems of Political-Religious Collusion
Political-religious collusion causes several social problems. First, religion may lose its original spiritual and ethical role by becoming a political tool. Second, when a specific religion receives political favors, discrimination against other religions or non-religious individuals arises. Third, political power may use religion to suppress criticism or justify corruption by borrowing religious authority. Fourth, political-religious collusion can deepen social conflict, promoting inter-religious strife or political polarization. In Korea, the severity of political-religious collusion was revealed in the 2016 Choi Soon-sil (Choi Soon-sil) national affairs scandal, which sparked public outrage.
Institutional Mechanisms to Prevent Political-Religious Collusion
To prevent political-religious collusion, many countries enshrine the principle of separation of church and state in their constitutions. Article 20 of the South Korean Constitution guarantees religious freedom and separation of church and state, prohibiting special political support for religious organizations. Additionally, the Political Funds Act restricts political donations by religious organizations, and the Public Official Election Act prohibits election campaigning within religious facilities. However, despite these legal measures, implicit collusion or legal circumvention methods exist in practice. Therefore, civil society oversight and the role of the media are crucial, along with transparent political fund management and voluntary ethical codes for religious organizations.
Recent Trends
As of 2024 and 2025, the issue of political-religious collusion continues to be raised in Korean society. Ahead of the 2024 general election, reports emerged that some politicians held private meetings with religious figures to gain support from specific religious groups. Additionally, in early 2025, a pastor of a large church was indicted on charges of providing illegal political funds to a politician. Meanwhile, criticism of political-religious collusion has grown within religious circles, leading some denominations to issue declarations strengthening political neutrality. Internationally, the alliance between the Christian right and the Republican Party in the United States has sparked controversy, while in Europe, discussions on regulating the relationship between Islamic groups and political authorities are active. These trends show that political-religious collusion remains a significant challenge for modern democracy.
Related Topics
- [[Separation of Church and State]]
- [[Freedom of Religion]]
- [[Choi Soon-sil National Affairs Scandal]]
- [[Political Funds Act]]
- [[Civil Society and Religion]]
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