A Quiet Sanctuary for Muslim Migrant Workers on Jeju Island

Nestled on the southern coast of Jeju Island, away from the bustling tourist resorts and honeymoon hotspots, a humble home near a fishing village has quietly become a spiritual haven for a largely overlooked community: Muslim migrant workers.

Beyond the quiet hum of a record player and the shoes left at the door, there is a small musalla clean, carpeted, and softly lit a rare sanctuary for Muslims living on South Korea’s remote holiday island. It provides a space to pray, find rest, and feel a sense of recognition in a place where their faith often goes unnoticed.

This musalla was established by Nasir Hong-suk Seong, a 35-year-old Korean fish farm operator who transformed part of his home into a prayer space after moving to Jeju earlier this year. Unlike the island’s only mosque located in Jeju City more than an hour away this makeshift prayer room offers immediate spiritual refuge for migrant workers who often cannot attend Friday prayers due to their demanding schedules.

“Fish farm workers are on call 24 hours, so they can never find the time to go to the mosque for Jummah prayers,” Seong explained to Arab News. “When I first arrived, I asked where they prayed. I was very sad to hear that it was almost impossible for them to attend Friday prayers and that they mostly prayed in the corner of their small dorm rooms.”

Jeju, often called the “Hawaii of South Korea,” is better known for its volcanic peaks and scenic beaches than for labor migration. However, its economy increasingly depends on migrant workers, many of whom are Muslim men from Indonesia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Official records show that Jeju Province had 3,567 migrant workers in 2024. Seong estimates that in his region alone, about 1,500 workers are employed across roughly 300 fish farms, with half of them identifying as Muslim.

Seong himself moved to Jeju from Incheon, where he previously ran a guesthouse and hosted many Muslim guests. Building relationships with them helped him see beyond negative stereotypes often associated with Islam in the West. In 2023, inspired by his experiences, he converted to Islam.

“About 30 percent of my guests were from Muslim-majority countries,” he said. “Getting to know them through hosting changed my perspective. They turned out to be incredibly kind and respectful.”