Young people in South Korea have been decorating images of Jesus with hearts, creating fan posters and merchandise, treating the religious figure like a pop idol.
During the Christmas period, the streets in Seoul were adorned with posters of Jesus, captioned: “Happy 2024th Birthday to Jesus.”
The son of god was styled with cute idol-like filters, featuring blush and heart emojis.
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The posters also promoted a “Jesus Birthday Cafe”, inviting people to join in the festive celebrations.
Birthday cafés are a key part of South Korea’s idol culture in which fans celebrate idols’ birthdays, share merchandise, and connect.
Videos circulating on social media showed people in a Jesus-themed cafe holding cakes and singing Happy Birthday.
The cafe features walls covered with Jesus posters, drinks in customised Jesus cups, and tables filled with themed keychains and Bible-verse stickers.
Visitors snapped photos with a life-size Jesus figure, posing in heart-shaped gestures, and earned ice creams by completing tasks such as a Jesus trivia quiz, watching videos, or posting on social media.
A visitor shared on koffeeandkpop.com that they had received a gift box with a Bible verse after telling staff they were not Christian.
“The staff did not pressure us,” they wrote.
“Some came here out of curiosity just like me, while others came to explore their faith. It is a lighthearted event, welcoming even for non-Christians.”
The event was organised by CCC_Life Transforming Communitas, a Christian evangelical group active in South Korean university clubs.
Organisers said that all Jesus images used were from film and TV adaptations.
Since 2017, they have partnered with various groups to host Christmas events promoting awareness of Jesus, funded by “the offerings and support of CCC colleagues who love Jesus”.
The activities have attracted attention on social media, though no other religious organisations have commented.
Supporters praise the initiative as “a creative way to engage with faith”, appreciating the amiable portrayal of Jesus.
Critics, however, argue it “desecrates the sanctity of religion”.
One online observer said: “Religion should not be trivialised as entertainment. Treating Jesus as an idol risks overshadowing Christianity’s core values.”
Christianity remains one of the primary faiths in South Korea.
According to a 2024 Religious Awareness Survey, more than 16 million people in the country identify as Christian, making up 31 per cent of the total population.
However, the religion’s influence in South Korea is reportedly declining, partly due to scandals involving church leaders and the perception that it upholds old-school values.
Unique ways of honouring Jesus have also surfaced worldwide.
Some Utah residents in the western US hire Jesus lookalike models for family photos and wedding announcements. The models are also expected to display Jesus-like personality traits, offering clients emotional comfort.
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