Living as a Muslim student in Korea
Moving to a foreign country on your own to study abroad can be a stressful journey, and more so when you suddenly become a part of a religious minority.
Based on a survey of 23,000 Koreans conducted by Hankook Research from January through November last year, Christians made up 20 percent of the Korean population, Buddhists 17 percent and Catholics 11 percent. A total of 50 percent said they don’t have a religion, and Muslims weren’t even factored into the statistics.
Although they do exist in the country, Muslims make up just a tiny percentage, with Muslim foreigners reported to represent 0.4 percent of Korea's entire population in 2018, according to the Korea Muslim Federation. However, as more international students enroll in Korean universities, the number of Muslim students is growing.
For many such students, pursuing a Muslim lifestyle can be a challenge in Korea. Pork is widely consumed and halal-certified restaurants are few and far between. While many universities provide prayer rooms, such as on Hanyang University’s Erica campus and in Seoul National University’s student dormitory, students are less likely to encounter them outside their school premises unless their destinations involve mosques, airports or big department stores.
For some universities founded by Christian missionaries, like Yonsei University and Ewha Womans University, it is mandatory for all students to attend Chapel or Christianity classes for several semesters, regardless of their religious beliefs. Such classes are not aimed at converting students to Christianity and only focus on introducing the religion. However, Muslim students may still find them uncomfortable.
Muslim students may face a number of difficulties in trying to adjust to their new independent lives in Korea. A Korea JoongAng Daily student reporter interviewed three Muslim students currently studying at Yonsei University: Latifa Sekarini, a 19-year-old student from Indonesia; Maria Esha, a 21-year-old student from Bangladesh; and Fatimatou Zahra Ndiaye, a 21-year-old student from Senegal. They shared their experiences, struggles and tips for fellow Muslims interested in pursuing an education in Korea.
![Exterior of halal restaurant The Halal Guys in Mapo District, western Seoul [ARUZHAN AIMANSHINA]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2023/03/03/d5c81469-c3ae-47dd-bfbb-527c2989d078.jpg)
Exterior of halal restaurant The Halal Guys in Mapo District, western Seoul [ARUZHAN AIMANSHINA]
Q. Any tips for finding halal food?
A. Sekarini: One of the things I learned when I first came to Korea was how to ask if a food contains pork: Dwaeji gogi isseoyo? Also, I would say a lot depends on your personal boundaries. In my case, I am alright with eating meats even if they are not processed according to Islamic law — such as those cooked with lard or mixed with pork — but I know other Muslims who are not so comfortable with that.
Esha: My first and most important advice would be to check the ingredients of packaged foods. All food packages in Korea label their allergens and always mention if the food contains any meat or intoxicating substances.
Ndiaye: Itaewon has the best variety of places selling halal food. I often purchase halal food products from an international mart located there. Indian or Arab restaurants are always a safe choice, and they are located in most popular areas in Seoul.
How are you able to stick to your prayer customs?
Sekarini: It is quite unusual for public places to provide prayer rooms and bathrooms that are convenient enough to do wudu, the cleansing ritual before praying. To avoid inconveniences, I would recommend praying at home before going out. If you find yourself out and about quite often, I recommend getting a small praying mat, and for women, a praying garment that is foldable and not too bulky.
Ndiaye: Due to the ongoing pandemic and regulations in Korea, all public praying places except for mosques are unavailable. When I am in class, I can only wait until I get home and catch up on all the prayers that I missed. As Muslims, we must pray on time, but if you have other obligations such as school or work, it is acceptable to do your prayers later.
![Islam mat and dress used for praying [LATIFA SEKARINI]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2023/03/03/80b4ceee-fe16-4398-9df1-57475a83265d.jpg)
Islam mat and dress used for praying [LATIFA SEKARINI]
How would you evaluate the way your university accommodates Muslim students?
Sekarini: I have never been discriminated against for being a Muslim, but I wish our lecturers would be more compassionate towards us, particularly during Ramadan and Eid. It is taxing to juggle coursework while fasting, especially for students who live on their own. Many of us wake up before dawn to cook and eat suhoor, the meal consumed early in the morning before fasting, and then fast while attending classes.
Ndiaye: Generally speaking, I am satisfied. However, if you eat strictly halal food, you cannot eat most of the menu options in school cafeterias because they are not halal-certified.
Have you had any struggles expressing your religion in Korea?
Esha: Fortunately, almost every person who learned that I was a Muslim had a rather positive reaction. I was surprised by the warm response from Koreans as they all helped me search for halal or Muslim-friendly food places.
Ndiaye: I would not say I had many problems in that aspect. However, I still try to be careful when I tell people what my religion is because Islam's negative stereotypes are still very much prevalent.
Sekarini: Personally, I do find it a little intimidating to tell people that I am Muslim, especially when eating out with company. If you are the only Muslim in the friend group, you might feel uneasy saying things like, "I cannot eat here because they do not have Muslim-friendly options."
Have you encountered any burdens in the school curriculum that made you uncomfortable or contradicted your religion?
Ndiaye: I always wondered, "Why are we required to attend Chapel or take Christianity classes?" I understand that our university is based on Christian values, but since students uphold different belief systems or none at all, why are these classes not electives instead?
Esha: In 2020, I was in a human rights class, where Middle Eastern and Islamic topics would come up quite frequently in a war context. A couple of times, some Korean students claimed as a fact that Islam was oppressive and disregarded women's rights. However, I politely corrected them during a debate, and they apologized.
Sekarini: It was not a lecture content, but I remember when I was a freshman attending a Christianity class, my classmate had made a blunt generalization about Islam and how, from their perspective, it was "a very oppressive religion that takes away women's rights to make their own choices." Nobody tried to deny them or challenge their remark, which made me quite uncomfortable. I am not saying that everyone should have extensive knowledge about Islam, but it is unfortunate when people do not consider that Muslims come from varying ethnic, cultural and sociological backgrounds. We are more than just a monolith.
Are there any aspects about life in Korea that you wish you knew before coming here?
Sekarini: I wish I knew how important it is to have at least one Muslim friend or a Muslim friend group. When you live in a country where the Islamic holidays are not national holidays, and your religion may seem relatively foreign to other people, it helps to have friends who can make you feel at home. Many of us may feel isolated when the month of Ramadan comes around. It is the feeling of community as we prepare our meals or break our fast at the end of the day that makes Ramadan exciting. This is why I believe it is essential to have a support system that pulls you through the month.
Ndiaye: I was unaware of how prevalent the drinking and smoking cultures are in Korea, so I was surprised when I came here and saw alcoholic beverages on the shelves in convenience stores. This is something you could never imagine back home. People will not pressure you to drink, as they respect your religion, but you may feel left out or overwhelmed when everybody else in your friend group drinks. I would recommend staying true to your own beliefs no matter what kind of environment you find yourself in.
BY STUDENT REPORTER ARUZHAN AIMANSHINA [kjd.kcampus@gmail.com]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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