Muslims have a service outdoors at a mosque in Seoul on Nov. 5, 2021. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 9 (Korea Bizwire) — A long-standing dispute over the construction of a mosque in Daehyeon-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu has reportedly escalated, with locals suspected of spreading animal oil in an alleyway near the temple site.
The conflict, which has been ongoing for three years, has seen tensions between the mosque’s owner and residents opposed to its construction.
CCTV footage released by the mosque’s owner on Wednesday revealed an individual splashing liquid in the alley with a pot, while another person acted as a lookout.
The material, which was reportedly animal oil, was scattered over a two-meter area and made the surface slippery, although it did not have a strong odor.
One resident who witnessed the incident compared the smell to that of pig fat, saying, “My house used to run a Chinese restaurant, and it smells the same as the lard I smelled at that time.”
The mosque owner believes that the incident can likely be attributed to individuals opposed to the construction of the mosque, pointing to the recent appearance of pig heads outside the temple as evidence.
The owner has reported the incident to local media outlets and plans to file a complaint with the police.
The emergency committee opposed to the construction of the mosque has denied any knowledge of the attack.
The conflict has previously seen residents opposed to the mosque hold a pork barbecue event followed by a pork boiled pork feast in December last year, which drew criticism from international media outlets such as French daily Le Monde.
Some have argued that the incident highlights the limitations of Korean social openness.
Jerry M. Kim (jerry_kim@koreabizwire.com)
