Korean Muslim YouTuber to build mosque in Incheon
Korean Muslim YouTuber Daud Kim plans to build a mosque in the western port city of Incheon.
Kim, whose Korean name is Jae-han, uploaded a post on his YouTube channel and social media on Saturday announcing his plans to build a Muslim place of worship on land that he purchased recently. He has over 5.5 million YouTube subscribers and 3.5 million Instagram followers.
“Finally with your help, I have signed a contract for land to build Masjid in Incheon … I can’t believe this day has come. I plan to build a prayer place and an Islamic podcast studio for D’awah to Koreans,” he said.
According to the contract he held in the photo, he purchased 284.4 square meters of land on Incheon’s Yeongjong Island for 189.2 million won ($136,552), April 11. The property is about a kilometer away from Yeongjong Station.
Kim asked for donations for his project and shared his bank information.
“I need financial help to complete the building. If you would like to help, please donate here,” he said.
“There will be many hardships but I believe I can do it. Until the day when every street in Korea is filled with beautiful Azan, I will do my best.”
While internet users, many of foreign nationalities, left words of blessing and support on his posts, the plan triggered some objections among Koreans.
As of Wednesday 3 p.m., Kim’s YouTube and Instagram posts have over 12,000 comments combined, one of which said, “Go to the Middle East if you like Islam,” and another saying the plan to build a mosque “will lower housing prices in the area.”
Kim may face administrative hurdles as well.
“It will be difficult for the municipality to approve the construction of a venue for a religious congregation, considering the road conditions around the property,” an official at Incheon’s Jung District Office said.
According to the Korean Muslim Federation, there are 19 masjids, or places of worship, in Korea, with some 35,000 Korean Muslims and 150,000 Muslims of foreign nationality here.
A group of Muslim students studying at Kyungpook National University in the southeastern city of Daegu have been facing fierce opposition from the local community for its plan to build a mosque since 2021.
The construction of the new mosque was authorized by a local district office in September 2020 but immediately triggered friction with neighbors.
The district office issued an administrative order to halt construction in February following a backlash, in which nearby residents cooked a whole pig and placed a pig’s head near the construction site for the mosque. Consuming pork is forbidden in Muslim culture.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended in October 2021 that construction be allowed to resume and said the local government’s cause for issuing the order halting construction was invalid and based on prejudice against Muslims.