The Evolution of Wŏn Buddhism in America Over Five Decades

Amidst Korea’s tumultuous modernization and colonial era in the early 20th century, Sot’aesan revitalized Chosŏn Buddhism, aligning it with the evolving times. Recognizing the limitations of traditional Chosŏn Buddhism, Sot’aesan endeavored to reshape it into a uniquely Korean Buddhism for Korean people. Wŏn Buddhism, which started from its early days with concerns about “Koreanness,” and “popularization,” has moved beyond Korea and moving towards globalization. Wŏn Buddhism began spreading in the United States in 1972, with the Central Headquarters in Iksan dispatching Rev. Yi Chesŏng to Los Angeles. As of 2024, approximately 60 ordained kyomus of Wŏn Buddhism in the United States engage in both Korean-centered and English-speaking Dharma services across 40 temples and institutions spanning the Americas. This paper delves into the fifty-year history of Wŏn Buddhism’s immigration to America, examining how the essence of Korean Buddhism has been preserved, confronted, and transformed as it ventured beyond the Korean Peninsula.