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Islam is a minor religion in South Korea. However, in the last decade, South Korea as a country has seen rapid growth in expats and an influx of foreigners moving to the country to pursue higher education or to work. So, the Muslim population in the country can be assumed to have seen an increase. According to the Korean Muslim Federation's estimates, approximately 150,000 to 200,000 Muslims are expected to reside in South Korea, with the majority of them being foreigners. Seoul, being the largest metropolitan city and capital in the country, hosts around 40% of South Korea's total Muslim population.
There are around 8 mosques in South Korea that are spread over different cities from Seoul to Busan. So, whether you've moved to Seoul for work or education or are generally visiting, mosques in the country should not be impossible to find, depending on your city, since not every city in South Korea hosts mosques. However, if you're in any of the largest cities, the chances of you finding a mosque within the city are higher. So, without further ado, let's have a look at the popular mosques in Seoul.
Seoul Central Mosque was built in 1976 in Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea. Before the mosque was built, the Korean Muslim Federation – a Muslim organization formed in 1966 that is also a judicial person through the Korean Ministry of Culture and Information held religious services and activities in a makeshift prayer hall in a downtown area of Seoul. Only a few thousand Muslims were expected to have been living in Seoul at the time.
However, with a growing Muslim population, the need for a mosque become inevitable. Therefore, President Park Chung Hee instructed the Korean Muslim Federation to build a mosque as a gesture of goodwill to Middle Eastern allies. This led several Middle Eastern countries to donate funds for the construction of a mosque in Seoul, with the majority of the funds coming in from Saudi Arabia.
Since the construction of Seoul Central Mosque, several other mosques have been built throughout the country. However, Seoul Central Mosque remains the hub of the Islamic cultural community in Seoul. The mosque is highly active in spreading its message of Islam and thus holds lectures in English, Korean, and Arabic regularly. Seoul Central Mosque also holds hundreds of Muslims for Friday prayers, with the highest number of worshippers increasing to 800.
The mosque is popular for its Islamic architecture. Two minarets rise high, and the mosque has Islamic calligraphy near its entrance. The mosque's wooden pulpit, which is where the Friday sermon is delivered by the Imam, was donated by King Hasan II of Morocco to the Muslim community of Korea. The first floor of the mosque is home to the Korean Muslim Federation and a meeting room. The second floor hosts the men's prayer hall, and the third floor hosts the women's prayer hall. Seoul Central Mosque, similar to other mosques over the world may only be open to visitors outside of the regular prayer timings. So, make sure to plan your visit accordingly.
The Sinchon Masjid and Islamic Center is another option to consider if you're looking for a prayer area or mosque in Seoul. Located in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The mosque serves the Muslims residing near Mapo-dang and Sinchon-dang. The mosque also has a separate praying area for women. So, it is an option worth considering if you're a woman studying in or living near Ewha Women's University, Yonsei University, Sogang University, or nearby areas. The people running the mosque have requested Muslims in the area to support the mosque by attending regular prayers and other activities hosted by the mosque. The mosque is easy to reach. For example, from Ewha Women's University, you can take the subway line 2, exit-6. The university is also at a 5-minute distance from Sinchon subway line-2, exit-5.
The Al-Fatah mosque is located in Busan, South Korea. Busan, being one of the largest cities in Korea, also hosts a number of Muslims. The Al-Fatah Mosque in Busan was established in 1980 with donations from Libya's government as a goodwill gesture for the Muslims residing in South Korea. The construction team for the mosque is said to have included experts who were a part of the renovation team for the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Turkey. Therefore, the mosque's beauty is obvious. The mosque can be reached by walking a short distance from the north of Dusil station of the Busan Metro.
Busan Al-Fatah mosque, along with being Busan's first mosque, also serves as a place of social gatherings and a community center for information exchange for the Muslims of Busan. The mosque is a white building that features Middle Eastern architecture. The exterior of the mosque features one tall minaret with smaller minarets around it. It has a large dome. Upon entering the mosque, you encounter a chapel. The ceilings feature colorful designs and Islamic calligraphy, a feature found in almost all mosques around the world. The floor has a bright blue carpet.
The first floor of the mosque has an employee present to guide visitors through the mosque and also provide them with pamphlets so they can have all the help they need. Visitors are allowed to visit and tour the mosque only outside of the regular Islamic prayer timings, as worshippers are not to be disturbed during the time prayers are taking place. So, make sure to plan your timings accordingly if you're going as a visitor. The second floor of the mosque is the men's prayer area, and the third floor is the women's prayer area.
The Islamic Center of Daejeon was built in 2006 in the city of Daejeon, South Korea. The center is located in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon. The metro station that is nearest to the mosque is Wolpyeong (KAIST). The center is the only mosque located in Daejeon and also has halal food options nearby, making it highly convenient for nearby Muslim residents and university students to pray and also get access to halal food options within the city. The mosque also serves as a place for the local Muslim community to get together, socialize, and offer their daily prayers together.
The mosque receives a high influx of worshippers on special events such as Eid, with the number of worshippers going up to 300. Muslims and non-Muslims alike visit the Islamic Center of Daejeon. Moreover, the center also hosts several events that are attended by Muslims and non-Muslims. These include annual welcome parties, daily iftar during Ramadan, and community Iftar during Ramadan. This offers an opportunity for Muslims from all over the city to gather and get to know each other better while also learning more about Islam.
The center also hosts weekly seminars to promote and enhance Islamic knowledge. The mosque is also open to visitors outside of regular prayer hours. However, make sure to be respectful of the mosque's environment and avoid making unnecessary noise. Preferably, make sure to be appropriately covered upon visiting the center. The mosque has a typical architecture featuring a dome and a minaret. The center also offers other services such as Islamic marriage (nikkah) services, Islamic education, and counseling services. The second floor of the mosque is dedicated to women.
| Fajr | Duhur | Asr | Maghrib | Isha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06:09 | 12:30 | 15:00 | 17:17 | 18:46 |