Former K-pop star's plans to build mosque in Korea faces local resistance

South Korean YouTuber and former K-pop star Daud Kim's plan to build a mosque in Incheon is facing resistance from locals and allegations of fraud. Daud Kim was known as K-pop star Jay Kim before he converted to Islam in 2020.

Daud Kim, who has over 5.55 million YouTube subscribers, shared on Instagram that he wanted to build more places for Muslims to pray in South Korea.

He had also asked his fans to help him out monetarily for the project, according to The Korea Herald.

However, Daud Kim's ambitious plan to build the mosque in Incheon, which is part of Seoul Capital Area, is facing multiple hurdles, including termination of land contract, administrative roadblocks, allegations of fraud and resistance from locals.

Of South Korea's 5 crore population, around 56% are irreligious, Protestants are 19%, followed by Korean Buddhists (15.5%) and Catholics (8%), according to the 2015 census data.

The country is home to approximately 1,50,000 Muslims. Among them, about 1,20,000 are labourers, primarily from Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan, while 30,000 are students and businesspersons.

OPPOSITION AND HURDLE STALL MOSQUE PLAN

Despite Daud Kim publicly proclaiming to have purchased land in Incheon for the mosque, the previous owner of the land had requested a contract termination.

This came after residents of the area voiced their opposition to the mosque plan, fearing their property would get devalued due to the place of worship.

"I told the real estate agent to terminate the contract," the previous owner told Yonhap NewsTV, a Korea-based media outlet.

Non-Muslim Korean residents near Kim's proposed mosque site were strongly against the plan, according to The Korea Herald.

Some objections were posted on an online forum for Yeongjong residents, saying the mosque plan "will lower housing prices in the area".

As if the local opposition was not enough, administrative hurdles have posed problems too. The pre-requisite permit to build a religious meeting place was not obtained, the report said.

Citing local officials, the report said that the denial of the permit was due to the conditions of the roads leading to the mosque site.

Daud Kim's plan for the mosque in Incheon isn't his first.

The K-pop star is said to have started on this plan after his initial project for a mosque in Daegu had to be abandoned due to objections from locals.

TAINT OF SCAM ALSO ATTACHED TO KIM'S MOSQUE PLAN

It's not only about resistance from locals. Allegations of financial fraud have also surfaced against Daud Kim.

JTBC, a Korean outlet and several internet users, accused Kim of misappropriation of funds from a previous mosque project in Daegu.

Previously, the K-pop singer came under fire for allegedly exploiting his conversion to Islam in 2020 for personal gains and collecting donations through unauthorised channels.

He had posted about his plan to build a mosque and had shared his account details for donations, to which many social media users said that the funds collected through a private account weren't allowed for construction of a public place of worship in South Korea.

Many users alerted others not to donate to Kim Daud.

Daud Kim's wife, Mia, converted with him in 2020.

The former K-pop star's personal life is also mired in controversy.

Mia shared photos of bruises she alleged Kim inflicted on her and accused him of running away to avoid divorce proceedings.