Olga Min

Itaewon is the most important site for Muslims in Seoul . Every Friday, the mosque in this district is filled with people, most of them foreigners from countries where Islam is the main religion. In Korea, where Christianity is gradually becoming dominant and Buddhism remains the traditional religion, a Muslim mosque is a unique place, testifying to the freedom of religion and multiculturalism in Korea. The mosque in Itaewon is a blue and white concrete building. Concrete is the most popular building material in modern Korea. White symbolizes peace and purity in Islam, and blue represents the heavens. "The famous ancient mosques back home in Samarkand are also decorated in blue and have minarets and wide doors just like this one," says Talat Karimov, a businessman from Uzbekistan. Services at the mosque are held every Friday at 1 p.m. About 150 people regularly attend the mosque. Women and men pray in separate rooms. According to Muslim law, men are not allowed to see women during prayer. Prayers are recited in Arabic and include verses from the Quran.

"When I first came to Korea five years ago, I had a hard time observing Islam. Korean culture and everyday life are very different from Muslim culture. Now, living in Korea, I am in complete harmony with my religion. I have adapted to Korea, but I still observe Islam," says Bakhtiyar Raupov, a merchant from Tajikistan. One of the significant differences between traditional Islam and Korean culture is food. Permissible food among Muslims is called halal (translated from Arabic as "permissible"). Anything outside of halal is prohibited, such as pork and alcohol. There are many shops around the Itaewon mosque where Muslims can buy halal food. Muslims can buy meat from herbivores and other foods prepared according to Muslim rules. "Islam forbids eating pork because pigs are considered unclean." "However, Koreans, on the contrary, eat a lot of pork. Korean cuisine contains many dishes that include pork. This fact used to bother me. Now, I understand that every nation has its own food traditions. It's just that when I dine with my Korean friends, they order samgyeopsal, and I order beef," says Bakhtiyar.

Prayer is a very important part of a Muslim's daily life. The daily salat—reciting prayer (namaz) five times a day—is mandatory: at dawn, noon, midday, sunset, and night. "It's not easy to pray five times a day in Korea, where people work very long hours and are busy almost all day. However, Koreans understand and support us. When we pray, they treat it with respect and sensitivity," notes Olim. "One day, I was driving from Seoul to Busan with my Muslim friend, Hasan. Suddenly, Hasan announced it was time for prayer. I couldn't stop right there in the middle of the highway. I turned off the music and kept driving, and Hasan prayed in the car," says Ya Young Lee, a company executive and pastor of a Methodist church in Jinhae.

"Although our faiths and traditions differ, we share many common values. For example, honesty, compassion, and kindness. I think people of all religions cherish family and loved ones as the most important things in life," says Hing Kwon Sah from Masan, an IT expert by profession and a Buddhist by faith. In Islam, family is the foundation of society, and there is no place for celibacy in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad said, "When a man marries, he fulfills half of his religious duty, may he fear Allah for the other half." "For Koreans, family is the most important thing in life. Parents work tirelessly to provide their children with everything they need: a good education, a comfortable life, and a bright future. I think Koreans, like Muslims, are very devoted to their families. This is what unites us."

Looking back, we see many conflicts and tragedies rooted in different religions, cultures, races, and nationalities. Today, we live in an era of globalization, where differences are respected and shared values ​​are prioritized. Korea guarantees freedom of religion and equal rights for all people living within its borders, both Koreans and foreigners. Modern Korean society is becoming more multinational and multicultural. Despite our differences, we live on the same planet and are all part of one human race. We all desire happiness and self-fulfillment. This unites us.