South Korea, also known as the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a renowned country located in East Asia, and Islam is a minority religion there. According to a 2002 report, there were around 45,000 Muslims in South Korea and 75,000 in 2010. It has now around 200,000 Muslims, of which 80% to 90% are non-natives. These people belong to different regions, including Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Migrant workers from Pakistan and Bangladesh make up a large fraction of the Muslim population in South Korea. They traveled here for education and better work opportunities and established a friendly and united Muslim community. Seoul and Busan are the epicenters of the Muslim community. Around 40% of the Muslim population is living in these two major cities of South Korea.
South Korean Muslims practice their faiths with great enthusiasm and dignity while enjoying the diverse culture and heritage. The unique religious identity of Muslims allows them to stand out from the rest while still being connected to the other residents of the country. Many Islamic events and festivals take place in the country, and Muslims celebrate them freely, including Eid, as it helps to unite them as one community.
The Muslim population is on the rise, as South Korea is known for being welcoming to Muslims, providing them with all the facilities and freedom to practice their beliefs without restrictions. Halal food and places to perform prayers are easily available for Muslim tourists and the local population. The Korean Muslim Federation provides halal certificates to restaurants and businesses. Their halal certificate is recognized by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM).
The South Korean government is now making serious efforts to foster religious diversity, and they also host different religious events and festivals like iftar parties, gatherings on Eid and Ramadan, etc. These steps work in favor of Muslims considering South Korea as a country to visit comfortably and settle there for students and working professionals.
Finding a mosque and praying on time is a tedious task for Muslims traveling to any new country, as the times of prayers for Muslims are predetermined according to geographical locations and may vary from country to country; hence, it requires a solution to facilitate the Muslim travelers and people in general.
In this era, the best way to find out prayer times and nearby mosques for any location is to use an app or website. It can be downloaded on any phone, irrespective of their OS, Android or iOS. Prayer time is updated in real-time, and with a few clicks or taps, it can provide prayer time and mosque addresses for any city and country according to your live location. Also, it reminds you to pray beforehand.
With the quick expansion of Islam in South Korea, many big and small Islamic institutions and mosques are under construction. The Korean government takes this action to enhance the cultural and religious diversity across the nation by empowering minorities. The Seoul Central Mosque at Itaewon, Seoul, plays the anchor in getting Islamic educational and institutional activities in South Korea, given that most Muslims in Korea are based in this city. The year 2009 saw the development and progress of Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Elementary School; the school opened to teach Sharia law to its young students to imbue the morals, principles, and values that Islam asks us to follow.
This school provides education in Arabic language & Islamic studies, which are taught to hundreds of Muslim students in the classroom environment. This helps provide basic Islamic knowledge to youth and general knowledge, so the young generation creates a strong connection with Islam and its principles. The South Korean government plans to work on more projects to begin higher education programs in the country for Muslims, including secondary schools, Madarsas, and universities.
The Korean Muslim Federation is the leading and most influential Islamic organization in the country. KMF plays an important role in organizing cultural and religious activities and events for the Muslims living in South Korea. It was established in 1960; it continuously worked on building mosques and Islamic educational institutes. The KMF takes support and funds from other Muslim countries to fulfill the growing needs of the local Muslim community. It is doing multiple initiatives to address the needs of Muslim migrants and helps new reverts when they begin their journey of Islam.
In addition to the KMF, some other organizations are also working very effectively in community service to develop the Muslim community. For instance, Hussainiya are smaller institutions found in multiple locations in the cities of Seoul and Daegu that are established. They are made specially to meet the needs of the Shi'a Muslims of the country.
In the Muslim community, these organizations hold great importance. These institutions are helping restore places where prayers are held during the days of Ashura. In South Korea, where Muslims are fewer in number, these institutions play an important role in creating unity among Muslims and encouraging strong communication and understanding as well.
South Korea is very famous for its food and cuisine around the globe, but options are pretty limited for Muslims because Halal dishes are not easily available there. In recent years, restaurants have been made to cater to Halal food for the Muslim population.
Places around Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon have the most Muslim popularity; hence, halal-certified restaurants are in demand here. EID Halal Korean Food is a popular spot for halal cuisine owned by a Korean Muslim family. Diners can savor traditional Korean dishes like bibimbap and bulgogi, all prepared in halal versions, while experiencing the rich flavors of authentic Korean cuisine.
Makan Halal Restaurant is the go-to place for those looking to try Spicy Korean Dakdoritang (braised chicken) and Mul Naengmyeon (cold noodles). Yang Good BBQ is the top halal option available if you're in Gangnam and craving Korean BBQ.
Other Options Include
The above restaurants and many other options are made to cater to the needs of the Muslim community of South Korea. These emerging and expanding halal food places showcase the growth of the Muslim population in the country. It also helps attract tourists, students, and the working class from different Muslim countries.