KOREA FOUNDATION

Mosques, characterized by domes and minarets, are beautiful and sacred places of worship for Muslims, as well as a key part of the foundation of many of their lives. For people of non-Islamic cultures, mosques are a unique symbol of Islam. Korea has more than 10 mosques, the largest of which is the Seoul Central Mosque in Itaewon, in the heart of Seoul. This is also the first mosque established in Korea and the central hub of the nation’s Islamic community. It was opened in the 1970s when relations between Korea and Middle Eastern countries were burgeoning. The Korean government provided the land, and several Muslim countries offered funds for construction.

The Seoul Central Mosque is located on Usadan-gil in Hannam-dong, a neighborhood famous for its diversity even within Itaewon. From halal restaurants to small shops selling books and clothes, from billboards to building façades, what you might call an Islamic flavor fills the road. The mosque is never empty, with Muslim visitors and tourists coming and going ceaselessly. Practitioners offer daily prayers here at set hours and attend weekly worship together each Friday. Non-Muslim visitors may enter the mosque when religious services are not in session.

Even when the building is closed to visitors, the mosque’s unique exterior is itself an extraordinary sight. It’s also pleasant to look around the auxiliary building that houses the Islam Center and a free book café. As the mosque stands at the top of a hill, one can enjoy looking down at the downtown areas of Seoul. At night, the view of the brightly-lit structure and the nighttime scenery of the capital city is especially grand. The mosque has temporarily suspended worship services for the prevention of COVID-19, but is typically very crowded at this time of the year in preparation for Ramadan.

Ramadan is the most important and sacred month in Islam, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. The Arabic word “Ramadan” means “hot month.” Since the Islamic calendar lacks a leap month, the timing of Ramadan advances through the solar calendar as the years pass. This year, Ramadan will be observed from April 23–May 23 in most Islamic countries, with dates differing by one or two days in some regions according to different teachings. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, offering five prayers daily. At sunset, the fast is broken with a meal called “iftar.” The Seoul Central Mosque serves iftar to the Muslims who attend its Ramadan activities. During Ramadan, halal restaurants in the neighborhood of Hannam-dong are often closed.

After a month of fasting and abstinence, three days of festivities, called Eid al-Fitr, begin on the first day of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. During this time, Muslims exchange gifts and enjoy an abundance of good food, and mosques lead services and charitable acts. Islam puts emphasis on helping the poor with the food saved by fasting during Ramadan. The belief is that, as members of their local communities, Muslims are naturally obligated to help their poor and struggling neighbors, including non-Muslims. Around the month of Ramadan, the Seoul Central Mosque is energized by the zeal and passion of the people who visit to observe the greatest Islamic celebration.

Written by Kim Moonyoung

Illustrated by EEWHA

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