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Islamophobic attitudes are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, and Muslim women's veils have emerged recently as a powerful mark of Islamic identity. In the West, fear and hatred of Islam has been projected onto the veil; this has led to a rise in the victimization of veiled Muslim women. Considering the recent influx and visibility of veiled Muslim women in Korea due to the hallyu phenomenon and medical tourism since the early 2000s, this study explores how Koreans respond to Islam and Islamophobia, focusing on the experiences of veiled Muslim women in Seoul. This study includes both Korean and non-Korean veiled Muslim women as research subjects in discerning whether the responses are derived from an Islamophobia or a result of Korean ethnocentrism. This research fills the gap in discourses of Islamic studies, which lack Asian viewpoints, as well as gives voice to the experiences of marginalized Muslim women in Korea.
Key Words: Korea, Islam, Islamophobia, veil, Muslim women, multiculturalism
I.Introduction
A.Muslims in Korea, from invisible to visible, from guest to permanent settler
On January 18, 2015, about 400 Muslims staged a street rally in the Itaewon District1 of Seoul, South Korea's capital. They held picket signs that read: "We will continue the war against slander." It was the first public demonstration organized by Muslims in Korea. Although the march ended peacefully, it stirred subtle tensions among observers such as pedestrians, police officers, and journalists. The rally signified that Muslims in Korea were no longer passive onlookers but, rather, active defenders of their religious and cultural identities. Along with the emergence of the Muslim community in Korea's public spaces, veiled Muslim women have recently become more noticeable in Seoul, not only in popular tourist areas such as Gwanghwamun Square and the traditional Namdaemun Market, but also in everyday life. Some of these women are Muslim tourists who want to enjoy so-called hallyu- also known as the Korean Wave-or are part of Muslim families receiving medical treatment in Korea. Other Muslim women in the country indude exchange students, workers, and permanent residents.
Korean responses to the increasing visibility of Muslims in the country have revealed both interest and concern. For instance, Korean business people hope to take advantage of the soaring Islamic economy. Their expectations have been...