South Korea, as a country with rapid economic growth and strong modernization, has become a destination for Muslim immigrants from various countries, especially from South Asia and the Middle East. Their arrival was triggered by the need for labor in the manufacturing, construction, and service
sectors, as well as the increasing number of Muslim students studying at Korean universities. Although their numbers are still relatively small compared to the overall population, the Muslim community in South Korea continues to grow, with mosques and community centers beginning to sprung up in
major cities such as Seoul and Busan. However, although their existence is increasingly visible, the challenges they face in adapting to Korean society are quite complex, especially in terms of social acceptance and cultural integration.
One of the main challenges faced by Muslim immigrant in South Korea is the prejudice and negative stereotypes against Islam, which are often influenced by media coverage and a lack of understanding of the local community. Islam is still considered a foreign religion and is often associated with extremism or
global conflict, causing fear and distrust among some Koreans.
This is reflected in resistance to the construction of mosques in some areas and the difficulty of Muslims in finding work that does not contradict their religious principles, such as in terms of halal food or prayer times. However, there are also signs of increased tolerance, especially among young Koreans who are more open to cultural diversity, as well as initiatives by several academic institutions and social organizations that seek to promote a more inclusive understanding of Islam and Muslims in South Korea.
There is an interesting phenomenon on the social media front, where South Korea as a country that has relatively not experienced a traumatic past with Islamic rule shows expressions of Islamophobia. This can be traced in a number of news reports that Islam as a religion has received the most negative responses
compared to other religions. Islamophobia in South Korea has emerged related to the massive phenomenon of immigration from Islamic society. Muslim immigrants in South Korea were previously dominated by a number of Muslim refugees in the Central Asian region, such as from a country experiencing chronic conflict, namely Afghanistan. Middle Eastern refugees are dominated by Iraq, Syria, Southeast Asian refugees related to Rohingya refugees who experience discrimination in Myanmar,
and Xinjiang Uyghur refugees who experience discrimination by the Chinese government.
Furthermore, the most dominating Muslim immigrants are workers, most of whom come from Indonesia and Malaysia. The number of Muslim workers in South Korea is closely related to the pull factor, where the salaries of migrant workers are relatively high, and they receive better treatment and legal protection compared to prosperous countries in the Southeast Asian region to the Middle East region.8 The large number of immigrants is closely related to the South Korean government’s policy of ratifying the refugee protection convention, as well as the convention on the protection of migrant workers and their families.
Professional volleyball in South Korea has grown rapidly in recent decades, with domestic leagues becoming increasingly competitive and attracting public attention. Korea’s professional volleyball league, the V-League, was first formed in 2005 and has become one of the most popular sports leagues in the country, both for men’s and women’s categories. Supported by large investments from major Korean companies, such as Hyundai Capital, GS Caltex, and IBK, this league has managed to attract talented players from within and outside the country. The presence of foreign players from various countries, especially from Brazil, the United States, and Europe, has also improved the quality of competition and the attractiveness of the league for volleyball fans in South Korea.
The Korean public’s response to volleyball competitions has been very positive, as evidenced by the high number of spectators attending stadiums and those who follow matches through television broadcasts and digital platforms. Not only that, but the fanbase support for professional volleyball teams in Korea is also quite strong, with a culture of fanaticism that almost resembles support for soccer or baseball clubs.
Famous volleyball athletes, such as Kim Yeon-koung, have even achieved celebrity status and become national icons who inspire the younger generation to pursue careers in the sport. The popularity of volleyball is increasing every time the South Korean national team competes in international events such
as the Olympics or the World Championships, where their performances are often in the media spotlight and national pride.