Korea has quickly gotten two strikes with Muslims abroad in the lead-up to the 2014 Asia Games in Incheon.
Strike One was noted here a few days ago.
Here is Strike Two (The Korea Times):
During a recent trip to Incheon International Airport, I was pleased to notice the new addition of a prayer room to the list of facilities at the airport.
My husband was taking a long flight, and, as Muslims, we both wanted to pray one of our five daily prayers before he took the flight.
After eventually finding the (badly signposted) prayer room, hidden away in some dark corner of the new section of the airport, our hopes were dashed.
We walked through the door and found segregated prayer rooms. There were three elaborately decorated rooms, one for Christians, one for Catholics and one for Buddhists.
Where was the Muslim prayer room? If they chose to segregate the prayer rooms, then they should have a room for each faith, not just the top three most popular religions in Korea, especially as Muslims would probably use the prayer room the most.
That second problem is easily fixed, just get one of these. After all, if you want to be the hub of Asia, you need to know where all the spokes end up.
Also, I disagree with the writer that Muslims were somehow discriminated against. It is more likely that the folks who made the chapel were just thinking of the three major religious groups in Korea. As for her assertion that Muslims would use the chapel more, she apparently has not met very many Korean Christians.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Re: Strike One. Muslim Religion ≠ Arabic Culture. No matter what the Arabs say…
Point taken
I had a friend who was a Seventh-day Adventist. He didn’t seem to think that Catholics were Christians either. Do Muslim Clergy have a position on this?
They should have facilities for Muslims though. At least somewhere they can wash, some mats and an arrow indicating the direction of the Kaaba. I thought this was pretty standard at most international airports, especially ones that are hubs for major airlines.
Catholicism is not a religion, it is a denomination.
Ah, but there’s the rub: Korea is hub of nothing.
It is the hub of Korea Air and Asiana. Even you have to admit that. Cheapest flights from Europe to Australia/New Zealand are often with Korean Air via Seoul. It lies right on the shortest path for one thing, which helps. Perhaps not a lot of Muslims in those transit passengers, but they should still have space for them somewhere at Incheon.
It’s ridiculous that they don’t — this is standard by now, globally.
I don’t know how much you should read in to this,
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/feb2008/gb20080227_985704.htm?campaign_id=rss_topDiscussed
but someone has been ranking it as the best airport in the world for the last three years. They’re obviously not surveying many Muslims.
Does anyone have any idea why Koreans group
Catholicism and Protestant denominations as two
separate religions? I had always attributed this to
linguistic factors and the subsequent translation into English,
천주교 vs. 기독교 ; 교/”religion”
along with the natural Korean tendancy for “끼리 끼리”
which causes this oddity of thought, but I’m sure there is more historically behind this. Anyone know?
Funny how those Muslims aren’t even on the K. religious radar . . . .
you know, being the
“Hub of Asia” and all (funny that the enormity of the continent which they claim to be the hub of–as well as one of its dominant religions–lacks recognition)
How about the Hindus too?
On the other hand, designated prayer rooms for Muslims only are the rule, rather than the exception, in the major airports of most Muslim countries including the tolerant, moderate ones.
How many Christians would dare agitate for a non-Muslim prayer room in Dubai’s DXB? Or Brunei’s BWN?
This is a one-way street.
Bone ‘em all. Why would an omnipotent being give a rat what kind of building you were in when toadying up to it? Or where your ass pointed? A real god hears your prayers, regardless of faith or architecture.
Oh I almost forgot.
Korea Names Saudi Arabia As Largest Investor In its Stock Market
http://www.arabnationnews.com/2008/05/korea-names-saudi-arabia-as-largest.html
Another smooth move for the Hub of Asia.
Incheon’s a nearly-great airport. It’s fiendishly efficient at moving people in and out — a pleasure to transit. But where’s the food? Where are the shops (other than the overpriced duty-free shops)? Where are the newsstands?
“It’s fiendishly efficient at moving people in and out”
most of the time…
American Dies at Incheon Airport After Service Staff Block Rescue Personnel
http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/10/09/american-dies-at-incheon-airport-after-service-staff-block-rescue-personnel/
Oh yes, I forgot: Korea is the hub of price-gouging. Korean Air and Asiana are real bargain carriers — if you’re lucky enough to be able to purchase tickets on them from some other, competitive market where their brand value approaches zero. They’re surely no bargain from here.
Kansai Airport in Osaka has a Muslim prayer room. You would probably have to already know of its existence to find it, however.
Granted it’s not going to happen, but must we mention the ‘hub’ every second sentence? The joke is getting really old, lost its impact, and not even funny any more. I swear to god, I’ve heard far more ‘hub’ cap thing from expat bloggers than the Koreans themselves. Another one is the “sparkling” thing. Let’s move on, or come up with something new other then the tiresome same old rehash over and over.
I second CM’s comment – as it’s neither a hub nor sparkling, let’s find something else to wear out.
Yes, I’m guilty too.
These two “strikes” that Korea has committed against Muslims strike me as rather benign when juxtaposed to the actions committed by that of the US: illegal detentions, torture, and outright invasion.
It’s rather rich for individuals on this blog to criticize Korea in light of the sort of actions that they’ve countenanced.
Too much hubbub?
And if you were the leading hub, i.e. the ruling hub of many hubs, well, wouldn’t that make you the hubcap?
The Marmot is to be congratulated for offering dating sites for a number of tastes and backgrounds.
Banners for two of the Muslim dating services at once are visible to me right now, but since I’m strictly secular, I shan’t find out anything else about them at this time.
I don’t know how long it’s been there, joining the Korean ladies’ and gay Asians’ dating services, but I just noticed it.
Make that three banners – arguably a bit much, but that’s just me.
Let’s hope that banners for every persuasion will not be available. Pre-op Tranny Adjumma Shamans wouldn’t probably generate much income traffic anyway, eh?
What, and deny the embittered yet another opportunity to bitch irrationally through the established practice of ‘hub criticism’?
cm, isn’t it patently obvious to you that, since IIA neglected to provide a prayer room for Muslims, the airport, Korean airlines and even retailers operating within the premises must then be held to tired ridicule?
@13 “But where’s the food?”
There’s a lot of food at the airport, and quite a few new restaurants have opened lately, actually. Just some of the restaurants aren’t right in your face in the main hall, but on different floors and slightly removed areas.
But yeah, I’d like a better selection of reading material (in English); the current selection is pi$$ poor compared to other major international airports.
this blog should be called the marmot’s hub
oh and re: muslim prayer room
cry me a fuckin’ river
@13 “Where are the shops (other than the overpriced duty-free shops)?”
Overpriced for whom? Many duty-free retailers are experiencing increased sales and profits, due to the relative strength of foreign currencies. Even non-duty-free retailers of luxury brands are experiencing an uptick in sales – in some cases, sales have increased thirty percent or more year-on-year, primarily due to purchases made buy non-resident consumers. At Lotte’s Avenuel, luxury-brand retailer Louis Vuitton has even begun to make its customers wait in line before being able to enter the shop, due to the rapid and significant increase. Their combined sales increase for both dutied and duty-free units is estimated to be even higher.
“My husband was taking a long flight, and, as Muslims, we both wanted to pray one of our five daily prayers before he took the flight”
You don’t need a room.
#1 Muslim Religion ≠ Arabic Culture. No matter what the Arabs say…
Then, would you also agree that Christian religon ≠ European/Western culture? Please elaborate.
Actually, Christian religion ⊇ European/Western culture, just as Islam is the same. Both universal religions have appeal to people not of the base culture; however, neither culture would be the same without the role of its respective religion. So European/Western culture would not be what it is today without Christianity, and the Arabic cultures wouldn’t be what they are today without Islam. I’ll leave it to others to characterize the cultures.
This reminds me of a post… must be years ago now… about the Latin alphabet street signs in Seoul. People were arguing that it wasn’t easy to figure them out if you didn’t speak Korean, and the official response was that the system was designed for Koreans.
The airport prayer room situation strikes me as similar/consistent with what we’ve seen before.
And I’d be willing to put money on this: those people who complain that Muslims “don’t need a prayer room” would be the first to raise a fuss if they did it anywhere else in the airport.
“And I’d be willing to put money on this: those people who complain that Muslims “don’t need a prayer room” would be the first to raise a fuss if they did it anywhere else in the airport.”
AGREED!
In fact – I’m in favor of getting rid of all faith based rooms! It’s an airport! Not a Church/Temple/Morgue – I mean, Mosque.
@28:
Is a statement of interest in order gbnhj?
In any event, Korean duty-free IS much more expensive than DF in many other places, e.g., Bali, where I’m currently cooling (warming?)my jets.
Hub of wishful thinking?
Hub of grandiose claims of self-importance?
Hub of bait & switch?
I like Incheon, too, despite its shortcomings, but like all the PR hype, it’s just face. The problem is the lack of infrastructure – note I didn’t say attractions of the cultural sort of which there are many worthwhile ones – once you get past the surface. Random case in point: Kintex, where I recently attended a Cho Young-p’il concert, which once you get inside has all the charm of a cowbarn, is capable of handling upwards of at least 50,000 persons at a time, but with nary a hotel above love-shack quality closer than the Hilton Grand in northern Seoul (s situation that only exists because of the incompetence and corruption of the govt officials tasked with overseeing implementation whose bumbling and avariciousness resulted in several viable hotel proposals for Ilsan being ignored (for failure to grease the skids) or withdrawn.
#31 – Agreed. Especially as a significant number of Arab peoples in Lebanon, Egypt and elsewhere are practicing Christians and Jews (through the centuries).
Sperwer, my wife and some of our friends are involved in this type of business, so I’ve become educated about it. Actually, while luxury-brand retailing is very competetive, and can be demanding in some aspects, it’s an interesting type of business.
Duty-free in Korea, just like duty-free anywhere, can be a fantastic bargain – if you know what you want and you’re savvy about shopping. Everything I’ve ever bought has always been less than regular retail in the US (where I don’t live, or visit frequently) or Korea. There are several ways to save anywhere from 5-50% off the regular DFS price here.
Frankly, for designer brands, places like the DFS in Denpassar and Nusa Dua are good, but they don’t offer as wide a range of luxury-brand items as are available at the many duty-free locations here in Korea. The reason: Japanese tourism to Korea is significantly pegged to the duty-free trade. The last time I visited Bali was 2005; at that time, clothing at the DFS wasn’t really priced any better than in Korea. Alcohol is cheaper in Bali, as it often is at duty-free shops outside Korea. Bali’s DFS has far more space devoted to locally made products than do Korea’s DFS outlets – odd, considering that the island proliferates with arts and crafts for sale at great prices.
Want true savings? Skip the duty-free shops and go to Hong Kong during the summer and winter sales periods. The variety and prices are much better – it absolutely kicks ass on DFS shopping.
Mr. Carr is right. Muslims are not equal to Arabs. Furthermore, anyone seen any Christian Cultural Centers in Saudi? So there goes strike number 1.
And #10, Rambutan, is right. Muslims have no right to complain when they won’t even tolerate Christian churches in the country that is at the center of their belief system. The hypocrisy of Islam is so naked, for anyone to see, to the extent Muslims dare to complain about something like the lack of a prayer room at the airport.
All arguments about “it isn’t fair” aside, the author of the article gives her name as Nicola Johnston and her e-mail is a UK address. That suggests that she may be originally from the UK (gotta love the commenter on the Korea Times who tells her to learn English). In the UK they have multi-faith prayer rooms at the large airports. Other than being a Muslim she isn’t responsible for what goes on in Saudi Arabia anymore than I am (and I do not know her at all).
As she points out in the article, places like Hong Kong have multi-faith prayer rooms. It’s just a question about customer service at Incheon. Like having baby-changing facilities that can be used by dads and wheelchair access to the bar. If the airport concludes that it’s not worth their while to provide these services then they have to expect complaints from the people who feel passionately about these things. Ditto for places like Dubai and Doha. Business is business.
soondae, I’m disappointed. I was hoping you would have more to say when querying on a Korea related blog whether Arabic culture was the same as the Muslim religion. You’ll have to try much harder if you want to catch Brother Carr out.
The Korean airport is another example of why this country is the Land of Not Quite Right.
They rennovated both of the food courts at the same time leaving people nowhere to eat! The lack of common sense here is just amazing sometimes.
Do airports in the Middle East have prayer rooms for non-Muslims? If so then they have a right to complain. If not, then they need to shut the f*&K up.
#39 ‘You’ll have to try much harder if you want to catch Brother Carr out.’
Wasn’t trying to catch him out. Rather, I was looking for additional clout that I can use where I am (the UAE). I’ve never heard the thesis stated in such stark terms.
On the “Muslim Religion ≠ Arabic Culture” note, I read somewhere (can’t find the link) that SE Asians Muslims tend to defer to Arab Muslims on matters of faith since they consider them somehow more “pure” in their theology, an opinion that their Arab brothers do not dissuade them from.
Maekchu,
As I tried to point out in my post just above yours, the complaining author’s name is Nicola Johnston. She has an e-mail address in the UK. In all likelihood she is originally from England. In England they have multi-faith prayer rooms at the airports that Korean Muslims can use to pray in, so she has every right to complain about Korea not providing a multi-faith prayer room for British Muslims to pray in. But thanks for sharing with us your opinion that they should shut the f*&K up because of whatever happens in the Middle East.
Maybe you think Korea should sign a treaty with the UAE to open multi-faith prayer rooms exactly simultaneously, because it would be so unfair if one place opened one first?
OK soondae, I believe you. If you’re interested in the issue then you should talk to some Persians (people who call themselves Persian not Iranian). There are quite a lot of them kicking around (perhaps not in the UAE) and it’s quite a sensitive issue in Iran because a lot of people feel that the government is shoving Arabic culture down their throats in the name of Islam and “undermining” the prior Persian culture. I’ve also heard shockingly negative things about Arabic culture from Muslims in Pakistan, Bangladesh and even Malaysia and Indonesia – although perhaps not representative. I expect that people like Hanan Ashrawi, Tariq Aziz (remember him?) and half of Lebanon identify with Arabic language and culture but not the Islamic religion. Of course then you get into the nasty business of who is a true Arab/Muslim and who is not and my advice would be to tread carefully where you are. You probably know better than I do, but some of these issues matter more to these people than Dokdo does to Koreans.
As a slight aside, it will be interesting to see if the Arabic community of Korea turn out to support the Iranian soccer team when they come to play here. They’ve been doing quite a good job of collectively supporting the Jordanian and UAE teams.
Eujin – Thanks for your comments. There does seem to be a consensus among reasonable erudite Arabs that anyone who speaks Arabic as a native language is an Arab, and this includes people from as diverse nations as Iraq, Somalia, and Morocco, to name a few. Yes, there is a bit of a divide on the religion issue, even among Muslims, which has something to do with the Sunni – Shiia divide. The divide is further complicated by communities on both sides of the fence that are not Muslim, such as Christian and B’hai. The UAE is quite a bit more liberal than its staunchly conservative Saudi neighbor, and hosts a number of expat populations from non-Muslim segments of nations comprising Muslim majorities as well as others. It even allows subtle practice of numerous other faiths, although the degree of liberalization varies from Emirate to Emirate, so there are some non-Muslim Iranians here.
My guess is that the Arab community will not turn out in full force to support the Iranian team in Korea. Maybe in part because they feel threatened by the prospect of an Iranian hegemony. There is a even a Dokdo-like island dispute in the Gulf in which the UAE claims a couple of islands currently occupied by Iran. It doesn’t get nearly the play time that the Dokdo Island issue gets in Korea, but it comes up among locals from time to time. I’d be interested to find out.
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