Pictures are emerging from South Korea of Jesus getting a modern makeover for Christmas.
Young Christians decided to celebrate the season by uniquely blending faith with modern cultural trends. Streets in Seoul were adorned with posters celebrating the “2024th Birthday of Jesus", featuring stylized images of Christ enhanced with blush and heart emojis.
The campaign treated Jesus like a pop idol, complete with fan merchandise and themed cafes.
A standout event was the “Jesus Birthday Cafe", a lighthearted initiative organized by CCC_Life Transforming Communitas, an evangelical group active on university campuses.
The café offered themed drinks in customized Jesus cups, walls adorned with Jesus posters, and tables covered with Bible-verse stickers and keychains.
Visitors could take photos with a life-size Jesus figure, complete trivia quizzes, and share posts on social media to earn small rewards.
Many visitors appreciated the fun atmosphere.
“The staff didn’t pressure us,” wrote one non-Christian who attended the event. “It was a lighthearted event open to everyone, whether exploring faith or just curious.”
Organizers clarified that all images used were from film or TV adaptations of Jesus, ensuring no sacred depictions were trivialized. They emphasized that the initiative, funded by CCC supporters, aimed to creatively promote awareness of Jesus during the festive season.
While the approach gained praise from some for engaging younger audiences, some Christians raised concerns about trivializing faith.
Critics argued that idolizing Jesus in pop culture style risks overshadowing Christianity’s deeper spiritual values.
Christianity remains one of South Korea’s largest faiths, with 31 per cent of the population identifying as Christian, though the faith faces challenges from declining influence and modern perceptions.
Similar trends have emerged in other countries, such as in Utah in the US, where Jesus lookalike models are hired for photos and events.