Korean Dictionary
How to say "Religion" in Korean
“Religion” in Korean is 종교 (pronounced "Jonggyo").
종교
Jonggyo
Usage & Context
The general term for religion in Korean. Korea has a diverse religious landscape with Buddhism, Christianity, and traditional beliefs coexisting. Religion plays an important role in Korean culture and society.
Example Sentence
한국은 다양한 종교가 있습니다.
Korea has various religions.
How to use 종교 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Religion” is 종교, romanized as Jonggyo.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 종교.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'jong-gyo'. Two syllables: 'jong' (rhymes with English 'gong'), 'gyo' (a 'gy' glide into 'oh'). The ㄱㄱ tenses.
More Example Sentences
polite inquiry
종교가 있으세요?
Do you have a religion?
constitutional discussion
한국은 종교 자유가 보장돼요.
Religious freedom is guaranteed in Korea.
cultural explanation
종교마다 명절이 달라요.
Each religion has different holidays.
Cultural Context
종교 covers all organized religions. Korea is religiously diverse — roughly half the population is non-religious (무교), while Christians and Buddhists make up most of the rest. Asking '종교 있으세요?' is normal in Korea but less common in casual first meetings than in some Western contexts. Korea constitutionally separates religion and state (정교분리).
Editorial note
We review entries like 종교 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
종교가 뭐예요?
What's your religion?
종교가 없어요.
I don't have a religion.
종교 자유가 있어요.
There is religious freedom.
Related Expressions
신앙
sinang
faith, belief
믿음
mideum
belief
무교
mugyo
non-religious / shamanism (depending on context)
신자
sinja
believer
More Religion Words
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