Have a fabulous 2012

FOR PHOTOS: PLEASE ASK FIRST, I WOULD APPRECIATE THE COURTESY OF BEING ASKED!

FOR PHOTOS: PLEASE ASK FIRST, I WOULD APPRECIATE THE COURTESY OF BEING ASKED!
Gaga: Rest in Peace (b.2002 - d.2010)

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Seoul Central Mosque (이슬람교 성원)


I took this photo from a roof of a house near the Seoul mosque


Seoul Central Mosque established under the Presidential Decree (on May 1969)- during General Park Chung-hee's era - is the 'only' mosque in Seoul, a city of about 12 million people and the highest number of foreign residents in Korea.



 This mosque first opened its doors back on May 5, 1976 in the area called Hannam-2-dong, close to the main Itaewon street in Yongsan-gu and has been attracting a crowd of close to a 1000 worshippers from around the world for the Jumma Prayers (scheduled at 1 a.m ) every Friday. It covers an area of 5000 square meters and has a capacity to accomodate 1500 people. On EID, the space is overwhelmed and worshippers are seen praying outside on the roads using their prayer mats - all around the mosque to be a part of EID congregation.

These are some of the images of the Seoul Central Mosque from a street going up towards Hyat - a hyper wired street but for great photos visit thr blogger PENNPENN (leeesann)  here.


It has 3 floors in general and has a seperate facility for women to pray at the mosque on its 3rd. floor. Saudi Arabia's generous donation of about 3.5 billion won in 1991 helped open a madrasa for the muslim children to learn about Islamic culture, Arabic, Quran and English. I also taught there for about a year and was delighted to see Korean children's interest to learn the basics of Islam and their emphasis on learning Arabic. Children from countries like, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey and Indonesia are among the few countries where these students have come from.


Seoul Masjid has a modest Islamic Cultral and Research Center.



Among the local community, it is a sort of a toursit site because many people want to see the arcitecture. It is located beautifully between the Namsan and the Han River.

'Click on the map for an enlarged image'

More information on Islam, the Mosque and its activities can be found at 'Korea Muslim Federation's' website.

Address:732-21 Hannam 2 Dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Telephone:82+ 2+ 793-6908
Website: http://www.koreaislam.org
Mosque by subway: Get off at Itaewon Station, Line No.6. Take Exit:3 and go straight for 3 min. From the crossing near Sultan Kebab/Dunkin Donuts take a right turn and go further straight for 5 min. Again turn left in a street with a school's wall on one side. You can see the mosque.

Note
A very comprehensive post by the blogger "Old Knicks man" on: how many mosques do we have in Korea (한국에는 이슬람교 성원이몆개나 있을까요)? Read Here.

25 comments:

  1. hye sarah...
    may i asked u something?
    I'm a 22years old muslim girl from Malaysia. I'll be visiting korea this coming September. I just want to ask if you know where is the best&cheapest place to stay while I'm in seoul.
    Sorry if i'm disturbing you... Thank you in advance.

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  2. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello,

    I would suggest you 'Hasuk Jib' which is one among many choices you have. In Hasuk - a big house is shared with many other people and an ajumma ( an old woman.usually owner of the place) is the caretaker.
    Another option is a guest house..if you want to stay long term..price can go down usually it is 16$/day.
    By the way, best and cheap may vary from person to person: budget, your main activity, period of stay, location are some important factors...
    You can post ur ad. to share a place on Craig list Korea...a very active website...and mayb you can find a suitable place for you..I wrote about this topic last month so...you will find some choices and websites in that post.
    Welcome and all the best in Korea!

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  4. Please check out this link for accomodation in Korea:
    http://sarahinsouthkorea.blogspot.com/2011/06/accomodation-in-korea.html

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  5. Hi Sarah,
    I'm a woman muslim too. i'm planning to visit Korea next year and will focus on Seoul only. There are only one mosque in Itaewon, if i'm traveling to other area such as Namdaemun, or Insadong, N Seoul Tower, Lotte World, Dongdaemun, Hongdae or Hangang River, any other places that we can use to perform our daily prayers?
    Is there any place or space in subway station that we can use to pray.

    Regards,

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  6. Hello Nur,

    If you are in Seoul then Itaewon Mosque is the only choice. There is no specific place to pray any where else in Seoul, however, like my Egyptian friend, carry a prayer mat and pray anywhere - you feel that it is quiet.

    By the way, all the places you have mentioned are within 30 minutes drive from the mosque (but rush hours really matters)!

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  7. As-Salamu Alaykum Sarah,

    I am Muslim girl from Thailand. I will go to Korea alone for studying Korean language in Sep. 2012 for 3 - 6 months (but I was not yet decided for where to study). I would like to study and stay near Muslim community in Itaewon. Would you please suggest me where to study and where to stay. Kindly let me know if you have a good place to recommend me. Thank you so much. Yazakullah

    Best regards,

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  8. @Osama Park Pinthong,
    Hi friend from Thailand. Well since you have NOT decided where to study then you can read my this post:
    http://sarahinsouthkorea.blogspot.com/2011/08/study-in-korea-part-3-korean-language.html

    Where you will live depends on where you will study since commuting is very time consuming. If you study at Sogang/Yonsei then Itaewon Muslim area is one of the best choice but if you choose to study at Kyung Hee then you better live near that neighborhood.

    For accomodation in Seoul you can reach me by email at : sarahinseoul@gmail.com

    Let me see how I can help you?

    All the best,

    Sarah

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  9. Thank you so much for your kindness. It is very useful information. ^^

    ReplyDelete
  10. As-Salamu Alaykum Sarah,

    I already send you an e-mail. If you have time, I hope to keep contact with you via e-mail. ^^

    Thank you.

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  11. @OPP: Walikum Salam,
    Good to know that my blog has been helpful. I hope that you find solutions and I've already replied your o your email. Thanks for writing in.

    All the best,

    Sarah

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  12. As-Salamu Alaykum Sarah,

    The time for finding solution will have to finish soon.^^

    Ramadan for the year 2012 will come very soon. Unfortunately I cannot be there to see Ramadan time in Korea. However, wishing you have a great Ramadan. ^^

    Osama

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  13. Ramadan Mubarak to you too, Osama! I think we still have a month and a half o go for Ramadan, correct if I'm wrong.

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  14. You are right Sarah because we still have a month and a half. Ir's maybe seem to be faster for me. ^^ I just receive your e-mail and hope to keep contact with you.

    Have a nice day.

    Osama

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  15. Wow I just found your blog and in about 5 minutes I have to say that you helped me a lot. I am Muslim too living in Germany and still going to school. But I hope I can visit Korea soon and knowing where to find a mosque and what I can eat during Ramadan are valuable infromations.

    Thank you and please keep up posting Blog Posts.

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  16. Hello D.J,

    Thank you!

    It is so wonderful to hear that you find the blog informative. If you have any particular concerns/question about life in Korea, do NOT hesitate to ask.

    All the best for your trip to Korea.

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  17. assalamualaikum,Sarah!
    I'M A SAUDI MUSLIM GIRL, COMING FOR A VISIT TO SEOUL &I HAVE FEW QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT THE CENTRAL MOSQUE.
    Do I need to fill an online form if I want to go for a visit? Because I opened their website but it was in Korean and I didn’t really understand ^^;!
    Also, I want to bring some simple gifts that can be given to Muslims of Korea plus if there are some charities I could donate to, to help the Islamic community in some way?
    I’d be thankful if u could help..^^

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    Replies
    1. Walaikum Salam W Banjar,

      You do NOT need to fill anything just visit and Friday is a good day to actually experience the mosque.

      Once you visit the mosque, go to the office and ask for Mr. Abdul Rehman - a Korean Muslim , who heads this place and also Korea Muslim Federation.

      There are a few Korean women who works at the mosque so you can ask about who to give gifts to - it's a beautiful gesture and I think they will also guide you on charity/donations.

      Right at the entrance (near the stair case) for womens' prayer room on your left is a box to give donations/charities/zakat etc. so I think it is one of the most reliable place to give donations in Korea.

      I hope this will help you and wish you a wonderful trip!

      Delete
    2. Thank you so much, Sarah!
      Actually you helped a lot ^^

      Wish you all the best...

      Delete
    3. @W.Banjar: You are welcome!
      I'm glad could help!

      Delete
  18. Salam Sarah, i'd dropped you a message on your email, sarahinseoul@gmail.com. Your response is highly appreciated. Thankyou!

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  19. Salam,

    My email account was hacked in May and I can't access it since!My new account is: blogsarahinsouthkorea2011@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sorry for that. I have fwd it to your latest email address. Thankyou Sarah!

      Delete
  20. Hi and Salam,

    I am Mohammad Amirul from Malaysia.
    How can I contact person in charge for Central Seoul Mosque? Because I want to do a program with mosque's administrative about our program to do activities with them.I am really need ur help.Thank you

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