[Korea Times] Muslims Desperate to Correct Social Misconception

   1999년 12월 30일자 Korea Times에 실렸던 기사입니다... 그 당시 기자가 한남동에 있는 사원을 방문해서 학생회 사람들과 인터뷰 했었을 때 저도 참여했었거든여...(그래서 제 이름도 기사에 나와있답니당...^^) 그 기사를 갈무리해왔습니다...(연재시 잘못 나온 부분은 일부 수정했구요...) 뭐... 그 이전부터도 마찬가지겠지만, 그때나 지금이나 이슬람에 대한 우리사회의 그릇된 사회적 편견은 여전히 남아있으니까요...

http://search.hankooki.com/times/times_view.php?term=times+weekender++&path=hankooki1/14_6/199912/t465174.htm&media=kt

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[Times Weekender] Muslims Desperate to Correct Social Misconception 

                                                                                                                                               By Chung Jin-young/Staff Reporter(Korea Times)

Perched atop a hill in Hannam-dong, the whitish mosque with its dome and minarets glistening under the afternoon sun is a sight as exotic as some illustrated scenes of the "Arabian Nights" tales.   

(이슬람 중앙성원의 미나렛. 기사는 퍼왔으나 사진은 직접 찍은 것임...(C) 둘라뱅크)

However, most people who happen to see it are ignorant to the fact that this out of place structure represents the hearts and souls of some 35,000 Koreans across the country.

On Dec. 17, Korean Muslims, along with some 70,000 faithfuls from Islamic countries living in Korea, entered Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month which begins in the ninth month of the Muslim calendar(called as Hezirah calender).   During this period, Muslims are obliged to abstain from food, drink, smoking, and sex(including marrital one) between sunrise and sunset. Deemed as one of the most important religious practices among Muslims, the event generally receives nationwide sponsorship in Islamic countries- for example, in Indonesia, workloads at public offices are reduced during the fasting in consideration of the hungry and the listless.

But in Korea, nearly everyone except Muslims are unaware of what Ramadan is, and it goes largely unnoticed.   The relative indifference toward the rituals of Islam- compared with those of Buddhism or Christianity -are highlighted during Christmas time when even non-believers make it an occasion of celebration. As Ramadan is a testing ground for one's faith, it can be more so for Korean Muslims than for those in Islamic world who can pursue their faith under government patronage. Other than merely having to endure long hours with an empty stomach in the cold winter, the Korean believers also have to brave through the prevailing ignorance and misunderstanding among the public toward their religion.

"It is not easy to tell them why I don't drink or eat. If I say I am a Muslim, then they will think of me differently. They will think I am a member of some heretic sect."  said Jang Il-Whan, a senior student in college, sitting in a student room within the mosque compound in Hanam-dong.

Other young people in the room said they experience similarly unpleasant reactions they tell people what they are. Christianity and Buddhism dominates the religious scene in Korea and people are not used to hearing their friends or family members say they are worshipers of Allah.

"I tell only my close friends about my belief." another college student said. "But even one of my close friends who is a Christian has been trying to dissuading me from being a Muslim. I don't understand this, because I have never tried to persuade him to convert."

"I think Korean society is very much conformist and people tend to view negatively whatever they are not familiar with. That may be why Muslims are treated always as outsiders in society." said Lee Joong-han, a senior student at the Hankook University of Foreign Studies.

After years of strong pro-Western policies and cultural leanings, there has been relatively limited exchange with Islamic culture, and stereotypes and misconceptions still prevail.

"Korean people associate them with terrorists, or sword wielding mavericks," said Shin Sang-ho, the president of the Islam Student Association in Seoul. "But this is not true. Islam is one of the most peace loving, humanistic of religions. And this is why the religion is spreading continuously in non-Muslims countries around the world."

Until the 1960, the Muslim population in Korea remained insignificant, with only small congregation of 20 to 30 believers. A turnabout came in 1970 when there began a significant growth of the religion. A Middle East construction boom seeking a cheap and trained labor force lured many local companies and laborers to the region.   And when the workers came back to Korea years later, many had become Muslims. In a reversed situation, the unprecedented economic growth in Korea during following decades this time resulted in a great inflow of foreign laborers from developing counties, mainly Indonesia and Malaysia. This marked a second phase of Islam's growth in Korea, as the workers brought their belief system with them, stimulating interest in Islam among Koreans.

For the moment, however, being a Muslim in Korea means living as a perpetual oddball, a minority. Moreover, Koreans are not particularly known for being considerate of minorities. For example, the essential prayer five times a day is almost unthinkable for people at work, since few work places have space for prayers or facilities for bathing(a required procedure before prayer).   And even if there are, those who purse the practice will become a scandal in the office. When it comes to halal food(certain foods eaten by Muslims and prepared under Islamic procedures), Korean Muslims are left with little chance to purchase them. The small halal meat shop near the Hannam-dong Mosque is the only such kind in Seoul and there are none in other cities. Other prohibitions clash headlong with Korean traditions, as in the case of banning ancestor worship. Those at the student room confessed that they participate in the rituals out of fear of conflicts with the family. Because of social prejudice, many Muslims are afraid to go public with their religion. The students said they would feel hesitant to present themselves as Muslim when applying for a job.

Despite all these obstacles, Lee Ju-hwa, or Abdul Rahman Lee, who is the Assistant Secretary General of the Korea Muslim Federation, says the things will eventually improve. The biggest part of his optimism is based on the growing interest in the religion among younger generations. "More students of cultural and regional studies are coming to our lectures and seminars about Islam. This is evidence of the increasingly diversifying interes s in academia. And I believe the trend will further accelerate in years to come." Indeed, an ever increasing number of freethinking, adventurous young people travel and study in previously less explored countries of Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Most of those at the student room in the Mosque are majoring in language and regional studies of Arab or Malay countries. When they first came to the mosque, it was to learn more about Islamic countries and to practice the language. But soon they found that the Koran and the believers of Islam are fascinating. Some said the life changing decision to become a Muslim came after visiting Islamic countries or meeting the people. The self-contentment, strong bonds between people and easygoing nature seem to have left a lasting impression on them, who were weary of the competition-driven society of Korea.

"If you speak their language or say you are a Muslim, you are immediately addressed as a `brothers' and are treated like family," said Shin Sang-ho. "When I was there I felt more accepted and comfortable."

Over past years, the Muslim Association has been engaged in various activities to improve public understanding of Islam. Most of all, it has sought to correct what they perceive as undue neglect and ignorance at schools and in the media. Some efforts are bearing fruit as information on Islam is now treated with an almost equally important status as Christianity and Buddhism in revised textbooks for middle and high school students.

"There is a long way to go. But with the help of Allah, things are surely getting better ever year," said Lee Ju-wha.