Korean Muslim YouTuber Daud Kim’s ambitious project to construct a mosque in the western port city of Incheon has encountered significant resistance from the local community. As a result of this backlash, the land purchase agreement he had previously entered into has been terminated at the landowner’s request, as reported by the Korea Times.
Korean YouTuber Daud Kim, also known as Kim Jae-han, ultimately terminated the contract with the property owner after the latter expressed their desire to cancel it. The property owners claimed that they were unaware of Kim’s intention to construct a mosque on the land.
Kim, who shares his experiences as a Korean Muslim on YouTube, has garnered a substantial fan base with 5.52 million subscribers on the platform and 3.5 million followers on Instagram. His content resonates with viewers interested in his unique perspective and lifestyle as a Korean Muslim.
Daud Kim acquired 284.4 square meters of land on Incheon’s Yeongjong Island for a total of 189.2 million won (equivalent to $136,500).
In a video shared on both YouTube and Instagram, he informed his followers that he had already paid a 20 million won deposit and would settle the remaining balance next month.
After receiving your support, I have successfully secured a land contract to construct a Masjid (mosque) in Incheon. It’s truly surreal that this day has arrived! My vision includes establishing a dedicated prayer space and an Islamic podcast studio to spread the message of Dawah to the Korean community.
In addition, he publicly disclosed his bank details online, appealing for donations from his subscribers. However, the local community voiced strong objections to the mosque construction due to its proximity to schools and residential neighborhoods.
The opposition was intensified by the resurgence of local news media reports regarding a 2019 sexual assault case in which he was allegedly involved. The charges stemmed from an attempted rape incident involving a foreign woman.
The Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), the sole Islamic organization officially recognized by the Korean government, recently informed the Korea Times that Kim’s mosque-building plans are a personal endeavor.
“The Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) ensures that all mosques across the country are officially registered under its name. Individual registrations or fundraising for mosque construction are not permitted.
According to a report by The Korea Times, there are 19 mosques in Korea serving approximately 35,000 Korean Muslims and 150,000 Muslims of foreign nationalities residing there.
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