Daegu university Muslim community backs relocation plan to end long-running mosque dispute
The Kyungpook National University Muslim community will relocate the unfinished mosque if Buk District helps resolve construction and compensation costs.
Protesters rally outside Daegu City Hall to urge officials to cancel approval for the disputed mosque project in Daegu, on April. 14, 2021.NEWS1
DAEGU — A six-year dispute over the construction of a mosque near Kyungpook National University in Daegu may finally be headed toward a resolution after the local Muslim community conditionally accepted a proposal to relocate the project on Monday.
“After considering the new district mayor’s efforts to resolve the issue and the many difficulties our community has endured over the past six years, the Kyungpook National University Muslim community has decided to conditionally accept Buk District’s proposal for an alternative site,” the Dar-ul-Emaan Kyungpook Islamic Center said in a statement.
The dispute between Muslim international students and nearby residents dates back six years. The Kyungpook National University Muslim student community began pursuing plans in September 2020 to build a two-story, 245.14-square-meter (2,639-square-foot) mosque in Daehyeon-dong near the university to provide Muslim students with a place to pray.
Buk District initially approved the project but later issued a stop-work order after nearby residents protested over concerns of property rights and potential noise issues.
However, the acceptance of the relocation proposal did not come for free.
“We are willing to relocate if reasonable measures are put in place to compensate for the enormous 350 million won ($253,000) already spent on the original mosque project, or if funding can be secured to build a mosque at the new site,” the group said.
The district proposed a new location in August 2025 at the site of the former Daehyeon police substation, about 200 meters (656 feet) from the unfinished mosque.
The community stressed that it was not demanding unconditional financial support, but are "hoping public institutions, including Buk District, will make every effort to work with us to resolve the financial issues.”
Construction resumed after the Supreme Court ruled in September 2022 that the stop-work order was unlawful and sided with those building the mosque. Opposition from some residents subsequently intensified.
Opponents of a mosque construction in Daegu protest the project by eating pork, a forbidden meat under the Halal dietary restrictions, on Feb. 2, 2023.KIM JUNG-SEOK
The conflict went as far as local residents holding a barbecue with pork in front of the proposed mosque site. Consuming pork is forbidden under Islamic Halal dietary rule.
Construction ground to a halt again in December 2023 after some construction materials, such as stud bolts, were found to be missing. Consequently, Buk District issued another stop-work order and construction has been halted ever since.
After nearly three years without construction, the site has fallen into disrepair.
The relocation proposal would involve exchanging the state-owned former police substation site for the current mosque property.
A local resident wearing a sign that says "Islam Out" stands in front of the unfinished mosque construction site in Daehyeon-dong, Daegu, on My 20, 2021.NEWS1
The Muslim community initially said it would consider the proposal but faced two major obstacles. Most of the money raised for the original mosque had already been spent, which left little funding to renovate or build at the new location.
The proposed site is also less than 40 percent the size of the current property, which could make it difficult to hold religious gatherings there.
The Muslim community ultimately accepted the proposal on the condition that the financial issues can be resolved.
“Buk District has made considerable efforts to open a dialogue, and we believe the district will continue to work with us on issues such as relocation costs,” the Muslim community said.
An unfinished construction site for a mosque near Kyungpook National University in DaeguBUK-GU DISTRICT, DAEGU CITY
Buk District cannot immediately commit to covering construction or relocation costs but plans to continue negotiations now that the Muslim community has conditionally accepted the proposal.
The district plans to earmark 1 billion won in next year’s budget to purchase the state-owned former Daehyeon police substation site. The budget proposal is set to be finalized this month.
The district plans to purchase the property next year and exchange it for the existing mosque site. The District would then redevelop the current mosque property into a public facility.
“We will make every effort to reach an agreement within legal and institutional constraints, including by seeking central government funding for relocation costs,” a Buk District official said. “The conflict has continued for a long time, and we hope it can be resolved amicably.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
