A land purchase contract in Incheon, South Korea, posted on social media by a South Korean YouTuber who identified himself as a Muslim. (screenshot image of the YouTuber’s Instagram)
INCHEON, April 17 (Korea Bizwire) – A Korean Muslim YouTuber with 5.52 million subscribers has faced pushback from local residents after announcing plans to build an Islamic center in Incheon, South Korea.
According to the social media posts of the YouTuber, known as Mr. A, on April 13 he wrote: “With your help, I have signed a land contract to construct an Islamic center in Incheon. We plan to build a prayer hall for missionary work and an Islamic podcast studio.”
The attached land purchase contract showed Mr. A acquired a 284.4 square-meter plot in Unbuk-dong, Jung District of Incheon’s Yeongjong Island for 189.2 million won.
While there are no apartment complexes immediately adjacent to the site, Yeongjong Station and Haneul High School are located within roughly 1 kilometer.
As news of the plans spread, opposition began emerging on local online community forums, signaling a growing controversy. Residents posted comments on an internet cafe for Yeongjong Island, with remarks like “Having an Islamic religious facility is an issue affecting our right to survive” and concerns about potential overcrowding from worshippers. Though some voiced support for religious freedom and diversity, they were in the minority.
The Jung District office has not yet received a building permit application from Mr. A, but officials believe constructing a religious gathering place on that parcel may face challenges. Permit reviews consider the surrounding environment, and the road conditions near this plot could make approval for a religious facility difficult.
The purchased land is zoned as a natural green area, with a permitted floor area ratio up to 80%. So even if approved, the building would likely be limited to around 65-100 square meters in size.
“Mr. A has only signed a land purchase contract, not secured ownership yet,” said a Jung District official. “If he applies for a building permit, it would likely be considered a neighborhood living facility for religious gatherings. But given the current conditions, approval seems improbable.”
This is not the first time an Islamic center in South Korea has drawn opposition. In Daegu, plans for an Islamic center in a residential area of Buk District since 2021 have sparked ongoing conflicts, with some residents even protesting by leaving pig heads outside the entrance to the facility.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
