Korea's Red Neon Crosses
Perhaps the most striking feature of the Korean cityscape for the visitor, pictured above in this article reporting that "citizens [are] complain[ing] about the bright light from church crosses — Blinded by the light: Seoul’s neon pollution.
When a friend visited and I explained to him that Protestant churches had red neon crosses but Catholics churches did not, he said, "Of course not; Catholics have taste." What I find strange is that you can find two Protestant churches of the same denomination, usually Presbyterian, right across the street from each other, something I have seen in big cities with fast food franchises.
Labels: Architecture, Corea, Separated Brethren, The Catholic Faith
5 Comments:
Not only that, but all the Buddhist temples I've seen there have been hole-in-the-wall storefront affairs, not counting the historical sites. And yet Buddhism gets much more write-up in the travel guides for Korea than Christianity.
There are some decently decorated, medium sized, newly built Buddhist temples just right outside apt complexes.
Do Protestants (minus Anglicans) have any nice buildings in Korea?
+JMJ+
I hate to admit this, but Catholic churches in the Philippines have their own neon crosses--in blue. In the wider Catholic family, Filipinos do not really stand out for our taste. =P
Still, you'll never see that many blue crosses so close together--for the same reason you'll never see one Catholic church right across the street from another. (And this is why I think your fast food franchise parallel was deliberate. Nice dig! LOL!)
Blue is more aesthetically pleasing the red. And to be honest, I don't mind the red neon crosses.
Because churches are literally businesses in Korea, just like fast food franchises.
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