Imagined Islamophobia in South Korea : Instinctive Fear Arising from the Potential Integration with Outgroups

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Islamophobia has emerged in South Korea (hereafter ‘Korea’) since the early 2000s. Among the various definitions and interpretations of Islamophobia, the current phase of Islamophobia in Korea reflects a ‘xenophobia’ that is complexly linked to the rapid decline in Korean population, the potential for significant changes in the existing ethnic composition due to the increase in migrants, and the anxiety of the inversion between the majority and the minority.
Meanwhile, the number of Muslims in Korea has increased steadily. It is expected that the influx of Muslims will continue to rise in conjunction with Korea's demographic crisis. In this context, this study aimed to uncover the true nature of Islamophobia in Korea by conducting a survey of Koreans to assess their current perceptions. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with Muslims from Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, a country with a high potential for future influx, to compare perceptions between the two groups.
As a result of the research, the primary factor influencing Islamophobia in Korea is negative media coverage. In addition, with a continuously declining population, Koreans are likely to selectively accept Southeast Asian Muslims as relatively approachable groups. Lastly, a noticeable shift in perception is emerging among the younger generation of Muslims moving to Korea. Therefore, there is a possibility that their identity may weaken or change significantly over the long term.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• I. Introduction 1
• II. Literature Review 4
• 1. The Diverse Definitions and Interpretations of Islamophobia 4
• 2. What is the Nature of Islamophobia in Korea 7
• 3. Necessity for Supplement to the Previous Studies on Islamophobia in Korea 10
• III. Research Design 13
• 1. Methodology 13
• 2. Quantitative Research
• 2.1. Research Questions 14
• 2.2. Conceptual Framework and Hypotheses 15
• 2.3. Data Collection and Analysis 18
• 3. Qualitative Research
• 3.1. Research Questions 22
• 3.2. Data Collection and Analysis 23
• IV. Results and Discussions 25
• 1. Findings and Analysis of Quantitative Research
• 1.1. Demographic Information 25
• 1.2. The Reliability and Validity of the Measurements 26
• 1.3. Analysis Results of Model Fit 27
• 1.4. Analysis Results of Hypotheses Testing 29
• 2. Frequency Analysis Results of the Survey Responses
• 2.1. Causes of Islamophobia in Korea and Its Current State. 32
• 2.2. Korean’s Perceptions and Attitudes toward Islam and Muslims 35
• 2.3. Korean’s Receptivity toward Muslim Migrants 39
• 3. Discussion on Qualitative Research Results
• 3.1. The True Nature of Islamophobia in Korea 44
• 3.2. Korean’s Receptivity toward Muslims 47
• 3.3. The Identity Change of Muslims and the Possibility of Integration 51
• V. Conclusion 55
• 1. Key Findings 55
• 2. The Significance and Limitations of This Study 57
• References 59
• Appendix 70