South Korea’s Current Acceptance of Muslims

Shahad, Polina

Muslims leave mosque after Friday prayers end.

SEOUL- South Korea is having a rapid growth in its Muslim community. Many

Muslim-friendly Facilities are more accessible and found in most areas, making life as a

Muslim in Korea more comfortable.

Many hot touristic places in Seoul like Itaewon, is the main district for Muslims in Korea.

The Seoul Central Mosque and many halal marts are located there. It is also home to many

foreigners, even if they are not Muslim. Mohammed Elamin, a Korea University Student

said, “I started visiting the meat market in Itaewon and buying halal chicken or meat in bulk.”

Halal restaurants are easier to find in Seoul, however, it can still be hard in the sense that one

can find halal restaurants and marts mostly in one area.

Halal supermarket in Itaewon.

Halal products being sold in halal supermarkets.

Halal Logo on a restaurant in Anam-dong.

Compared to 10 years ago, Korea did not have much exposure to other religions except

Christianity and Buddhism. There has been a rapid increase in Koreans being interested in

Islam as a religion. “I am curious to know what god Muslims believe in." said a Korean

citizen visiting Seoul Central Mosque. According to the Executive Director of the Korean

Muslim Federation (KMF), Jang Hussein, there are about 35,000 Korean Muslims today and

about 400 people come to Friday prayers every week.

Koreans posing inside the mosque while visiting.

Muslim reads the Quaran in the mosque.

According to Hussein, after the 9/11 incident, there has been a mass image set by the media

of muslims being terrorists. This obviously impacted the way Koreans and the world in

general think of muslims so there will always still be some sort of prejudice and negativity to

some people when they think of Islam.

There is an increase in Muslim facilities in Seoul, and even in Universities. Many shopping

malls like Coex implemented praying rooms in the mall, for Muslim people to pray their five

prayers on schedule. Although many universities like Seoul National University (SNU) are

lacking in providing enough facilities like prayer rooms and halal restaurants, Korea

University (KU) has prayer rooms available in the dorms. Joumana, an SNU international

student says "I have lived in the dorm for a year, I haven't seen any facilities in the dorms or

on campus... I have religious friends who just pray in their own room.”

Praying rooms at Korea University’s dormitory.

Praying rooms in Coex, a shopping mall in Seoul.

Herein Shin, A professor at Korea university's department of media and communication,

mentioned that now Korea is evolving and becoming more accepting of other religions,

however, it still ties back to the different age groups and how open they are. She teaches

summer classes and notices some Muslim students in her classes sometimes, and she is happy

to see such diversity. Moreover, She mentions how Korean Universities are trying to promote

awareness about diversity by making diversity councils and providing courses for Koreans

and foreigners to understand more about minorities in Korea.

Cultural Diveristy and Media class, discussing Muslim related topics.