YONSEI UNIVERSITY requires all Yonsei students to take an Understanding of Christianity class from the common curriculum and four semesters of Chapel class. To non-Christians, history and tradition may not be enough of an explanation for why these courses are mandated. In contrast, believers find these lectures ambiguous as the course material contains fewer faithful perspectives to accommodate non-Christian students. For Yonsei University to uphold the values of truth and freedom, both the school and the students must participate in open dialogue with a respectful manner.

The spirit of Yonsei

   Horace Grant Underwood is a familiar name to all Yonsei students. With missionary Underwood overlooking education, Dr. Horace Newton Allen the medical institution, and Dr. Oliver R. Avison the medical school, the three pioneers built the foundation of Yonsei University amidst a time of turmoil in Korea. Owing to their pure passion and unwavering commitment, Yonsei University is now Korea’s leading institution in both the medical and educational field. Yonsei University’s mission statement declares that they are “dedicated to educate future leaders of our society in the spirit of Christianity[1],” with the Christian spirit based on the bible verse: “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

   Today, Yonsei University’s Office of the Chaplain is the administrative department responsible for keeping this Christian tradition alive. The office, led by Chaplain Chung Mee-hyun, organizes both Chapel and mandatory Christian courses, as well as other Bible courses and spiritual counseling. When *The Yonsei Annals* contacted Chung for an interview, she referred to a previous interview she had done with the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab. Here, she explained that the office is “engaged with providing spiritual care” with an “ecumenical mindset[2],” that is, the willingness to foster unity and collaboration with others.

Various views on Chapel

   Yonsei’s guiding principles are first and foremost expressed through Chapel. All undergraduate students must attend Chapel for a minimum of four semesters before graduating. Chapel sessions are an hour long and held every Tuesday and Wednesday during the 2nd and 3rd periods of the timetable. Chapel at Yonsei operates as a vital tool in preserving the university's Christian identity and aims to foster a sense of community among students and faculty. It invites various speakers, including Christian ministers, biblical scholars, and exemplary individuals, to share their insights and experiences in promoting spiritual growth[3].

   Nonetheless, questions arise as to whether Chapel effectively serves its purpose. The Annals interviewed Kim Ju-yun (Sr., Dept. of Theology, Sinchon Campus) who expressed his opinions on this matter as a Christian student. When he was a freshman, Kim could not help but feel disappointed when Chapel sessions appeared as mere inspirational talks. He understands that the school must consider all students with various religious backgrounds. However, a chapel is still a form of worship and Kim expected it to reflect more of a regular service in terms of worship order and content. On one occasion, he was discomfited during Chapel when a lecturer labeled the Song of Solomon as a sexual book, which he believes was a diminishing and belligerent categorization of a book of greater depth. Still, there were also times when he learned valuable lessons. Once, Lee Kyung-rim, executive director of SEUM Law, was invited to a chapel class to speak about her work in helping children of inmates. SEUM Law is an institute for children welfare that advocates for the rights and safety of prisoners’ children who are often called the “forgotten victims” or the third victims of crime. Through Lee’s speech, Kim gained new perspectives on children who need care and learned how to embody Christian values in ways he had never imagined.

   Chapel offers insight to non-Christian students as well. One sophomore student, who requested to remain anonymous, spoke to the Annals about her experiences with Chapel. She recalled an anecdote of a professor who had left home due to clashing religious beliefs with his parents. Born into a devout Buddhist family, the professor could not endure the extreme pressure forced by his parents and eventually moved out to protect his Christian beliefs. The sophomore, who is also a member of Come Together, Yonsei’s student club for advocating queer rights, saw a resemblance in this professor’s story to the shared experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youths. It is common for queer youths to suffer or leave home as their parents deny their gender identities or sexual orientation. Whether it concerns religious beliefs or gender identities, everyone has a desire to be respected for their values. The student expressed that Chapel presents chances to find such similarities between Christian and LGBTQ communities, cultivating deeper mutual understanding and compassion.

   While some students acknowledge its ability to help establish communal bonds, some criticize the mandatory aspect of Chapel and believe it to be a violation of religious freedom[4]. The school’s right to religious education should not interfere with the freedom of individual faith. Universities cannot assume that students entering a university where Chapel is mandatory is not an expression of accepting all religious education[5]. Chung says the “lack of voluntary motivation” from students may lead to “passive” attitudes during Chapel. However, she highlights that Chapel is “not a place for proselytism[6] but […] broad-based spiritual education[2].” The National Human Rights Commission of Korea advised to find ways not to fundamentally infringe on religious freedom, such as opening alternative subjects for non-religious students[5].

Different opinions on mandatory Christian courses

   For the 3 credits required to complete the Understanding of Christianity category, Yonsei University offers 3 courses: Modern Society and Christianity, Christianity & World Culture, and Bible and Christianity. Modern Society and Christianity delves into different aspects of human life in today’s fast-changing society from a Christian perspective. It analyzes modern societal issues in light of Christian principles, drawing on examples from the Bible. In our increasingly interconnected world, understanding different cultures is vital. For this purpose, Christianity & World Culture explores Christianity’s impact on global culture and history, tracing its evolution from its early days to the present, including its influence on Western history and society. It also discusses interfaith topics, such as Christianity’s interactions with other religions and its role in Korean culture. Finally, Bible and Christianity offers a structured study of the Bible, including its history and content. The course, in addition, covers aspects of Jesus’ life and teachings, relating them to contemporary life[3].

   Genie Park (Sr., Dept. of Business Admin., Sinchon Campus), president of Yonsei’s Buddhist Student Council club, expressed her views on the mandatory Christian courses in an interview with the Annals. As a Buddhist, she believes Yonsei’s compulsory Christian courses are approachable, even for non-Christians. Park recognizes that Christianity's influence extends beyond religion and into areas such as architecture, art, law, and political history. Hence, education on Christianity teaches a large portion of basic knowledge for cultured conversations. She acknowledges that her professor—for Christianity & World Culture—took great care to be mindful of all religious backgrounds and to make lectures enjoyable for students. Despite Park’s initial mistake on her final exam where she had confidently, yet incorrectly, stated that Jesus was born on January 1, her professor graded her exam fairly. Unfortunately, to Park’s observations, some students rather than professors displayed strong religious biases during group discussions, potentially marginalizing other perspectives. Just as non-Christian peers learn about Christianity with an open manner, Park wishes that her Christian peers would reciprocate such attitudes and display respect for other religions and non-religious individuals.

   Wee Eui-jin (Sr., Dept. of English Language & Lit., Mirae Campus) had a different—rather the opposite—experience in their classroom. While talking to the Annals, Wee recollected group discussions where their non-religious peers denigrated religious peers. Non-believers commented that believers are emotional, nuancing that people with faith lack academic objectivity and reason. Wee believes such remarks were inappropriate and that all students should practice embracing a variety of faiths.

Mandatory religious courses in other universities

   Ewha Womans University, much like Yonsei, is built upon Christian ideologies and has preserved its spirit through Chapel since 1888. The university offers one mandatory Christian course—Christianity and the World—as a part of its common curriculum[7]. However, dissatisfaction prevails in Ewha due to the strict requirements of Chapel. Ewha students must attend 30 minutes of Chapel in the morning every week and are assigned to chapel groups according to their major. More importantly, they are obligated to participate in 8 consecutive semesters of Chapel, and only permitted 2 absences that must be appended with supplementary Chapel sessions. Compared to Yonsei students, Ewha students have less flexibility as Yonsei students can decide when to fulfill their Chapel requirements throughout the four years whilst Ewha students cannot. Regarding absences, Yonsei students can be excused for emergencies, whereas Ewha students must supplement any non-attendances. This burden is especially greater for juniors and seniors who are preparing for their job and internship applications as Chapel clashes with certain courses. E-dae Hak-bo, Ewha Womans University’s newspaper, conducted a survey with 401 respondents where 49.9% of students expressed extreme dissatisfaction and 28.2% with dissatisfaction[8].

   Preserving foundational ideologies through religious courses is not limited to Christian universities. Dongguk University was founded by a Korean Buddhist according to the principles of Buddhist teachings—wisdom, compassion, and endeavor—and as a mean to pursue such traditions, the university holds Buddhist services every Monday morning on campus. The ceremony takes place in Jung-gak-won, the main Buddhist temple in Dongguk University, where participants display a sign of respect and willingness to follow Buddha in front of a statue of Buddha. These services are entirely voluntary and welcomes all students, professors, and faculty members of Dongguk University. The school’s primary channel of upholding its philosophy is not the Buddhist rituals but freshman courses. Dongguk freshmen must complete 2 credits worth of Practice in Seon courses, which explore self through meditation, and the 2-credit course Buddhism and Human Being, which discusses the history and culture of Buddhism[9].

Moving forward

   Mandated courses that delve into sensitive topics such as religion are bound to have heated discussions. These debates can be both enlightening and challenging, as individuals engage in dialogue with others who may have different perspectives. It is essential for the university to create a safe and respectful environment within Chapel and mandated Christian courses where participants feel free to express their thoughts and beliefs without fear of judgment or discrimination. Students and professors must also keep in mind that fostering a culture of empathy and understanding is crucial in such settings. Consistent and constructive dialogue will help bridge gaps and build connections, allowing Chapel and mandatory Christian courses to satisfy both Christian and non-Christian students. Such efforts will maintain Yonsei’s spirit and uphold the university's core principles of truth and freedom.

[1] Yonsei University

[2] “Seeking Justice, Peace and Integration of Creation”

[3] Yonsei University Office of the Chaplain

[4] Everytime

[5] Yonhap News Agency

[6] Proselytism: The practice of attempting to convert people's religious or political beliefs

[7] Ewha Womans University

[8] E-dae Hak-bo

[9] Dongguk University