Trust in Churches Plummets Amid Prolonged COVID-19... 76% "Do Not Trust"

Online Worship (PG) [Image Source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] It has been revealed that the overall social trust in Korean churches has significantly declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the results of the "General Public Evaluation Survey on Government COVID-19 Quarantine Measures" released on the 29th by the Protestant public opinion research institute, the Pastoral Data Research Institute, only 21% responded that they "trust Korean churches very much or somewhat" when asked how much they trust Korean churches. In contrast, 76% responded that they "do not trust them much or at all," showing a large gap.

Compared to the "Social Trust in Korean Churches Survey" conducted by the Christian Ethics Movement, a Christian organization, in January last year, where 32% responded that they "trust Korean churches very much or somewhat," this represents a decrease of about 10%.

Among those who responded that they "trust," 70% were Protestants, while only 9% were non-Protestants, showing a stark difference.

The survey also confirmed that the public has an exaggerated perception of COVID-19 infections originating from churches.

The institute pointed out, "When asked 'What percentage of confirmed COVID-19 cases do you think originated from churches?' respondents answered 'about 44% of total infections,' which is about four times higher than the actual figure. This highlights the need for more active public relations and media strategies by Korean churches."

In fact, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on confirmed COVID-19 infection sources as of the 21st, the proportion of "church-originated confirmed cases" was 11% of the total.

The institute added, "With trust in churches at rock bottom, there seems to be no special way to change society's perception of churches. It appears that the only way is for churches to sincerely and continuously practice their fundamental functions and social roles, starting with small actions, over the long term."