The mosque in Seoul


The main Muslim temple in South Korea is the cathedral mosque, located in Seoul (Seoul Central Masjid). About 50 people come here daily, and on weekends and holidays (especially in Ramadan) their number increases to several hundred.

general information

Currently, about 100,000 Muslims are practicing Islam in the country. Most of them are foreigners who came to South Korea to study or work. Almost all of them visit the mosque in Seoul. To erect it began in 1974 on the land allocated by President Pak Chung-hi as a goodwill for the Middle Eastern allies.

Its main goal was to establish friendly relations with other Islamic states and familiarize the indigenous people with the culture of this religion. During the construction of the mosque in Seoul, financial assistance was provided by many countries from the Middle East. The official opening occurred in May 1976. Literally in a few months, the number of Muslims in the country has increased from 3,000 to 15,000 people. Today, believers acquire spiritual forces here. They have the opportunity to observe all the prescriptions contained in the Holy Qur'an.

In the cathedral mosque not only religious ceremonies are carried out, but also "halal" certificates for goods sent for export to Muslim countries are issued. This is an important function that allows us to establish trade relations with Islamic states. The mosque even has its own official logo, developed by the local religious foundation.

Description of sight

The mosque in Seoul is the first and largest in the country, therefore it serves as a functional center of Islamic culture. The building covers an area of ​​5000 square meters. It is decorated with arches and columns. The mosque consists of 3 floors, which are:

The last floor was completed in 1990 on the finances of the Muslim Development Bank of Saudi Arabia. In the Seoul mosque there is the Islamic Institute for the Study of Culture and Madrassah. The training is conducted in Arabic, English and Korean. Classes are held on Fridays, they are visited from 500 to 600 believers.

The facade of the mosque has a white and blue color, symbolizing the purity of heaven, and is made in the modern Middle Eastern style. On the building there are large minarets, and near the entrance there is an engraved inscription in Arabic. A wide carved staircase leads to the entrance. The temple was built on a hill, so it offers a stunning view of Seoul.

Features of visit

If you want to get to the service, which takes place only in Korean, then come to the mosque on Friday at 13:00. Men and women pray in separate rooms that have different entrances, and do not have the right to see each other at this time. You can only go to the temple barefoot. After preaching to all comers, they give out cookies and milk.

Around the mosque in Seoul there are restaurants where traditional Middle Eastern cuisine is prepared and Halal dishes are served. It is a lively commercial area with Islamic grocery stores and boutiques.

How to get there?

The mosque in Seoul is located in Itaewon, halfway between Mount Namsan and the Han River, in Yongsan-gu, Hannam-dong, Yongsan District. From the center of the capital you can get there by buses №№ 400 and 1108. The journey takes up to 30 minutes.