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| Four Indonesian tourists take part in the Maghrib prayer at Hoehyeon Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, Wednesday evening. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
By Ko Dong-hwan
At sundown Wednesday, four Muslim women positioned themselves in a corner at Seoul's Hoehyeon Station for the Maghrib prayer.
The Indonesian tourists, some in full Islamic traditional dress, spread windbreakers or small rugs on the cold marble floor, took off their shoes and put down shoulder bags. They then started praying towards a wall ― in the direction of their holy temple. The Maghrib prayer is the fourth of five obligatory daily prayers for Muslims.
The scene is indicative of the rising influx of foreign visitors and migrants from many religious backgrounds that South Koreans have been urged to accept. Among efforts, the gender equality and family ministry has been encouraging people to embrace Korean families of interracial marriage, while Seoul's Lotte World Tower has a prayer room.
Nevertheless, newcomers sometimes become the targets of bigotry, even from intellectuals and leading figures. Main opposition Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo called President Moon Jae-in's supporters "Moonslams" ― a compound of the President's surname and Islam coined to ridicule the supporters as "followers with blind faith." Hong used the term at the party's New Year events in Busan and Ulsan on Monday, becoming the first politician to use the offensive word in public.
The spokesmen of other parties criticized Hong, saying his words "may cause diplomatic conflicts with Muslim-majority countries" and they were "embarrassing for our country."
While some use derogatory language to slander their opposition, many grassroots communities support foreigners against South Koreans who do not understand their customs.
Encouragement for vulnerable groups was witnessed at the Korea Press Center in Seoul in December, when the sixth Korea Multicultural Youth Awards honored 10 biracial children for their achievements and good deeds. The recipients of the award, organized by The Korea Times and sponsored by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, overcame language and cultural barriers, or discrimination stemming from their appearance, to win.
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