“Religious Mosaic: New Perspectives on Faith and Tradition in Contemporary Korea”
9th-10th May 2025, University of Turin, Italy
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 5th December 2024
Notification of acceptance: 22nd December 2024
The Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Modern Cultures at the University of Turin
invites applicants for the Second International Conference of “Making Korea a Religiously Plural
Society? Historical, Legal, and Social Approaches” Project (2023-2025) to be held at the University
of Turin from 9th to 10th May 2025.
In the context of the study of religious pluralism in contemporary societies, the case of South Korea,
which presents the coexistence of different religious traditions in an advanced and dynamic society,
continues to attract the attention of religious scholars.
Today, Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shamanism, and many other religions including new
religions continue to influence individuals and Korean society at different levels. However, as South
Korea becomes increasingly secularized and globally intertwined, Korean religious pluralism is also
affected by modern-day challenges.
Indeed, the decline of affiliation with traditional confessions found in economically advanced
countries is also present in South Korea, with an increasingly less traditionally religious population
willing to exercise greater religious mobility and agency in choosing one’s spiritual path. At the same
time, the affirmation of the K-culture in the global scenario, propelled by the media influence, could
either accelerate the integration of foreign religious models or produce spaces of creativity and
resilience within the specificities of Korean religious traditions. Faced with the global challenges of
environmentalism, gender equality, economic fragmentation, migration, and the ethical use of
artificial intelligence, religions will also be called upon to contribute to developing responses for their
communities of believers. In this sense, the future role of religious traditions in shaping South Korean
society could be decidedly influenced by the social engagement of traditionally underrepresented
sectors of the population, such as those of women, youth, and diasporic communities.
After the primary analysis of the religious panorama of Korea before the mid-20th century conducted
at the First International Conference at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, the Second International
Conference in Turin intends to develop further the insights reached in Venice, investigating the
present configuration and future challenges of Korean religious pluralism.
We call for submissions on a range of subjects that may include, but are not limited to:#
● Religious diasporic communities in contemporary Korea
● New Religious Movements in Korea
● New media and digital religions in Korea
● Christian traditions in contemporary Korea
● Portrayal of religions in K-pop, cinema and literature
● Gender and queer religiosities in contemporary Korea
● Confucianism in contemporary Korea
● Religious social activism in Korea
● Eco-spirituality in contemporary Korea
● Interreligious dialogue and ecumenism in Korean society
● Transformation of Buddhist traditions in contemporary Korea
Submission guidelines
Submissions should include an abstract in English of 300 words; up to 5 keywords; a short
biographical note (up to 100 words); and personal details (e.g., occupation, affiliation, and contact
information [address, telephone number, email]). Proposals in MS Word format must be submitted by
5th December 2024. Applicants will be notified by 22nd December 2024. The conference will be
conducted in English. For more information and/or to submit an abstract, please contact:
andreamaria.nencini@unito.it.
Logistical Information
Confirmed speakers can receive funding for accommodations for up to 2 nights.
Selected graduate students may have their travel expenses reimbursed up to a maximum of 300 euros.
Organized by
Giuseppina De Nicola (Associate Professor, University of Turin)
Andrea Maria Nencini (Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Turin)
PRIN project members
Hyojin Lee (Assistant Professor, Ca’ Foscari University)
Shalon Park (Postdoctoral Fellow, Ca’ Foscari University)
Jong-Chol An (Associate Professor, Ca’ Foscari University)