New statistics on Korean American Christianity

Korean Churches Yellowpages 2012

Korean Churches Yellowpages 2012

Several major Korean-language newspapers (including JoongAng Ilbo) are reporting on the updated figures from the updated Korean Church Yellowpages from Christian Today, a US-based Korean Christian news agency and publisher of the directory (see picture). The following are some of their noteworthy findings.

  1. As of December 1, 2011, there are 4,096 Korean churches in the US which is actually 48 less than the previous year (58 closed down, 10 newly opened). California saw 30 churches close, New York and New Jersey each saw 8 church closures, Washington 6, and Texas 4.
  2. There are 1,501 Korean churches in 75 countries excluding South Korea and the US. This includes 415 Korean churches in Canada, 220 in Japan, 199 in Australia, 137 in Germany, 70 in England, 52 in Argentina, 51 in Brazil, 35 in New Zealand, 25 in Mexico, 16 in Guatemala (?!), and 15 in Vietnam. Combining Korean churches in the US, the number of all overseas Korean churches reach 5,597. This total does not account for unofficial, unaffiliated, or underground churches—it is estimated that including all those that are unaccounted for, the total number would easily exceed 5,600.
  3. Based on US Census figures from May 2011, the total population of Koreans in the US was 1,423,784. Divide this by 4,096 churches, and what you get is one Korean church for every 347 Koreans — which is 3 times the church-per-population density in Korea. The most saturated state was Arkansas, with a Korean church for every 175 Korean Arkansans. The least saturated states include Minnesota (1:1,249) and Michigan (1:806).
  4. Consistent with previous years, Presbyterian Church dominated with 43.2%, followed by Baptist (17.7%), Methodist (13.7%), Holiness (7.2%), and Full Gospel (7.1%).

Korean Churches Yellowpages 2012 can be picked up at free of charge at Christian Today office (1128 S. Crenshaw Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90019) and select Korean Christian bookstores. To order one by mail, send $6. There is an online directory at www.koreanchurchyp.com and mailing labels can be purchased for a fee.