Korea Muslim Federation

Korea Muslim Federation
한국이슬람교
AbbreviationKMF
Formation1967
Location
President
Dr. Hussein Kim Dong-Eok[1]
Imam
Abdur Rahman Lee Ju-Hwa
Websitewww.koreaislam.org

Korea Muslim Federation (KMF; Korean: 한국이슬람교) is a Muslim organization established in 1967 in South Korea. The KMF oversees the Korean Muslim Students Association[a] and the Korea Institute for Islamic Culture. The federation also supports a madrasa for Qur'anic education.

History

The Muslim community in Korea began to take shape in the 1950s through a number of informal Islamic associations. These efforts eventually coalesced into a unified national body, which was formed in 1966 and officially adopted the name Korea Muslim Federation.[3] In 1967, the organization was formally registered as a judicial person through the Korean Ministry of Culture and Information.[4]

During the 1970s, KMF expanded its activities internationally, opening a branch and Islamic center in Jeddah in March 1978, followed by another in Kuwait in July 1979, and one in Indonesia in 1982.[5][6][7]

In August 2025, KMF celebrated the 70th anniversary of Islam in the Republic of Korea.[8]

Activities and functions

The focus of the organization is to manage the religious and community affairs of Korean Muslims, and to engage in charity and missionary work.[9] The organization works on setting up missionary centers in major cities, developing existing mosques, and training imams.[10] Information on Islam, local affairs and other relevant materials for Korean Muslims or the public are also made available.

The federation oversees the Korean Muslim Students Association and the Korea Institute for Islamic Culture.

KMF has been active in halal certification, providing halal certificates for restaurants and businesses in South Korea. Its halal certification is recognized by Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM). As of January 2018, there were 14 KMF-halal approved restaurants nationwide.[11] A 2023 study highlighted KMF's leadership in ensuring Muslim minority access to halal products, noting its collaboration with the South Korean government and its role as the sole authority in halal certification.[12]

In December 2022, KMF along with Korea Halal Authority entered into a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with Indonesia's halal body (BPJPH), enabling mutual halal certification recognition for food exports and imports between Korea and Indonesia.[13] In March 2025, KMF issued a fatwa declaring that cultivated (lab-grown) meat can be considered halal provided it conforms to Islamic production guidelines.[14][15][16]

KMF also organizes Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. The KMF Hajj and Umra Travel Agency was established on January 25, 2022, following approval by Saudi Arabia's Hajj Province in December 2019.[17]

See also

References

  1. ^ It was formed in September 1979 by 100 Muslim University students[2]
  1. ^ "Meeting With the President of Korea Muslim Federation (KMF)". EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA, SEOUL. 19 March 2025. Archived from the original on 2025-08-22.
  2. ^ 4th september 2025 Insta post of KMF "The month of September in History of Islam in Korea" Link:- https://www.instagram.com/p/DOLV3ZnEqUR/?img_index=1&igsh=NG8yZWxneTB0OTY2
  3. ^ Dong-Jin Jang; 최원재 (June 2012). "Muslims in Korea: The Dilemma of Inclusion". Korea Journal. 52 (2): 160–187. doi:10.25024/kj.2012.52.2.160. ISSN 0023-3900. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-06-23.
  4. ^ Azad, Shirzad (2015). Koreans in the Persian Gulf: Policies and International Relations. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-317-55212-3.
  5. ^ "Islam & Muslims in Korea". Motamar al-Alam al-Islami. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  6. ^ "The Jakarta Post - Dynamic Korea". www.thejakartapost.com. Archived from the original on 2007-04-29. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  7. ^ "Islam in Korea". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of Sudan. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Korea Muslim Federation celebrates 70 years of Islam in Korea - The Korea Times". www.koreatimes.co.kr. 2025-08-14. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  9. ^ 한국국제교류재단 (2011). Newsletter. Korea Foundation. p. 11.
  10. ^ Hyde, Georgie D. M. (1988). South Korea: Education, Culture and Economy. Springer. p. 20. ISBN 978-1-349-10039-2.
  11. ^ Park, Hyunseo (August 2017). Food Globalization and Culture War: The Case of the Halal Food Complex in South Korea (Pdf) (Master's thesis). Michigan State University. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.27796.81286. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
  12. ^ Hakim, Mohammad (2023). "The Role of the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) in Guaranteeing the Right to Access Halal Products for Minority Muslims". Journal of Halal Studies. 5 (1). doi:10.12345/halalstudies.2023.001 (inactive 2 November 2025). Retrieved 19 August 2025.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2025 (link)
  13. ^ "Indonesia and Korea sign halal certification MRA". Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  14. ^ "South Korea's main Muslim group recognises cultivated meat as halal". Food Business MEA. 2025-03-10. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  15. ^ Ahmed, Hafiz M. (2025-03-21). "Korean Muslim Federation Declares Cultivated Meat Halal". The Halal Times. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  16. ^ Mridul, Anay (2025-03-20). "Korean Muslim Federation Issues Fatwa Ruling Cultivated Meat As Halal". Green Queen. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  17. ^ "About Us – KMF Hajj and Umra Travel Agency". KMF Hajj. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 19 August 2025.


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