Interest in learning about Islam is growing in South Korea, with some young people in particular drawn to its belief in one God, its moral teaching and its way of life. Personal contact with Muslims, religious classes at mosques and content on social media are all playing a part, according to a report.
Citing a report in The Korea Times, the International Quran News Agency (IQNA) said an estimated 45,000 people born and raised in South Korea have become Muslims. Many of them are in their twenties and thirties. There are, however, no reliable official figures.
The report tells the story of a Korean Muslim in his thirties known by the pseudonym “Yusuf”, who embraced Islam in 2014. His interest began when he met Muslim friends and saw their way of life up close. As he learned more about the faith, he decided to convert.
Many Korean converts say they are attracted by Islam’s teaching on the oneness of God, its clear religious principles and its moral guidance for daily life. For them, these teachings have opened a chance to think again about life and values.
Religious classes at Seoul Central Mosque
Koreans who want to learn about Islam come regularly to the Central Mosque in the Itaewon area of Seoul, where they can learn about Islamic belief, worship and way of life. Some recite the shahada, the declaration of faith, and become Muslims after taking these classes.
A Korean Muslim woman, “Ariyam”, said Islam’s teaching of respect for elders means a great deal to her. Because that value is close to traditional Korean culture, it was easier to explain her religious decision to her family.
According to the report, some young South Koreans are looking for a philosophy of life outside the usual social customs and expectations. In learning about Islam, some of them have found a way to think afresh about morality, inner peace and the meaning of life.
Social media widens awareness
Despite common negative views of Islam, direct acquaintance with Muslims has changed many people’s outlook. Seeing Muslims’ conduct, religious practice and daily life at close range has made some want to know more about the faith.
Social media is also playing an important part. Some Korean Muslims make videos about their religious experience, their daily lives and Muslim culture, giving Korean and international viewers a window on Muslim life.
Ayana Jihye Moon, a Korean Muslim fashion personality, embraced Islam as a teenager. Her curiosity about the religion began in childhood, when she learned about Islam during the Iraq war. She later went on to higher education and became known as a Korean Muslim fashion figure living in Indonesia.
YouTuber Daud Kim has also described in his videos his experience of converting to Islam and different sides of life as a Muslim. Content from well-known figures like him gives people with little prior knowledge of Islam a chance to learn about it. Some Korean Muslim women are also combining the hijab with the hanbok, traditional Korean dress, to create a new style that brings Islamic values and Korean culture together.
Finding a sense of belonging
Several Korean converts say that after embracing Islam they found new relationships, mutual support and a sense of family in the Muslim community. Although some faced negative reactions from people they knew, the bonds they formed with other Muslims gave them emotional support.
Ariyam said that when she first went to Seoul Central Mosque, she felt as if she had come home. Her experience suggests that, alongside religious belief, the warmth and brotherhood of the Muslim community can matter a great deal in the lives of new Muslims.
A long history on the peninsula
Islam is not new to South Korea. Muslim traders, migrants and international contacts have brought knowledge of Islam to the Korean peninsula at different times. In particular, the presence of Turkish Muslim troops during the Korean War helped introduce Islam to the country. Later, foreign workers, students and migrants widened the Muslim community further.
Reliable up-to-date figures on the exact number of local converts in South Korea, or on annual conversions, remain limited. But converts’ personal experiences, interest in religious classes at mosques and the active presence of Muslims on social media are creating new chances to learn about Islam.
For a range of reasons, from the oneness of God and a moral way of life to the search for inner peace and warm ties with the Muslim community, some South Koreans are becoming interested in the faith. Their experiences are opening room for more discussion of Islam and greater mutual understanding in the country.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report