Religious site · Yongsan-gu, Seoul

Seoul Central Mosque

Korea's first mosque, on the Itaewon hillside, at the heart of Seoul's Muslim community

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Discover Seoul Central Mosque

High on a hillside in Itaewon, the white walls, dome and twin minarets of the Seoul Central Mosque stand out above the surrounding rooftops and can even be glimpsed from the Han River. A steep lane lined with halal restaurants, grocers and travel agents leads up to its arched entrance, decorated with Arabic calligraphy.

For Muslim travellers it is the natural focal point in Seoul: a place for the five daily prayers and the Friday congregation, and a neighbourhood where halal meals are easy to find. Visitors of other faiths are welcome outside prayer times if they dress modestly and behave quietly, and a visit offers an insight into Korea's small but long-established Muslim community.

Don’t miss

01The white facade with its large arched entrance, Arabic calligraphy, dome and two minarets
02The main prayer hall and separate prayer area for women
03Views over Itaewon and towards the Han River from the hilltop setting
04The lane below the mosque, lined with halal restaurants, grocers and shops
05Friday congregational prayer, which regularly draws several hundred worshippers

History & culture

The story of Seoul Central Mosque

The Korea Muslim Federation is the main organisation of the country's Muslim community. In the 1970s, as Korean construction firms and workers took on major projects in the Middle East, the government under President Park Chung Hee offered the federation land in Itaewon for a mosque, partly as a gesture of goodwill to Middle Eastern partners. Construction was funded largely by Saudi Arabia, with help from other Muslim countries.

The mosque opened in 1976 as the first in Korea. The three-storey building has a large Islamic arch, a dome decorated with arabesque patterns and two minarets, and its wooden minbar was a gift from King Hassan II of Morocco. Over the years the surrounding streets have grown into one of Seoul's most multicultural districts, with Middle Eastern, South Asian and Southeast Asian businesses.

Local life & traditions

The mosque anchors a lively community of Korean Muslims, migrant workers, students and diplomats, and on Fridays and during Ramadan and Eid the hillside fills with worshippers. Lectures are given in Korean, English and Arabic. The streets around it reflect Itaewon's role as a meeting place of cultures, where halal butchers and bakeries sit alongside Korean shops and international bars.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Muslim travellers can join daily prayers or Friday prayer; the Korea Muslim Federation publishes a monthly prayer timetable on its website. Afterwards, explore the surrounding streets for halal meals, with Middle Eastern cooking well represented, and look out for halal grocers.

Non-Muslim visitors can view the exterior and, outside prayer times, may be allowed into the building; dress modestly, remove shoes where required, ask before photographing people and avoid visiting around Friday midday prayer. Group visits are best arranged in advance through the federation's visit application.

When to go

The mosque can be visited all year. Spring and autumn are pleasant for walking the steep Itaewon lanes, while summer is hot and humid and winter cold and icy on the slopes. Fridays around midday and the Eid days are very busy with worshippers, so non-Muslim visitors should choose another time; during Ramadan the area is especially atmospheric after sunset.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Managing organisation: Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), whose website publishes the mosque's monthly prayer timetable and a visit application form Source: koreaislam.org ↗
Building: A three-storey building with a large Islamic arch, an arabesque-decorated dome and two minarets, on a hill in Itaewon Source: english.seoul.go.kr ↗
Halal certification: The KMF site links to its halal certification body for checking certified products and restaurants Source: koreaislam.org ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Dress modestly (covered shoulders and legs); women may wish to bring a headscarf.
Avoid sightseeing visits during prayer times, especially Friday midday prayer; check the KMF timetable before you go.
Visitor guides report public visiting hours of around 10:30-17:00; confirm with the KMF before planning a group visit.
The walk up from the main road is steep with steps at the entrance.
Ask permission before photographing worshippers, and keep voices low inside.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Seoul Central Mosque: food, markets & places to stay

Itaewon Station on Seoul Subway Line 6 is the nearest station; from the main road, the mosque is reached by an uphill walk along Usadan-ro and Usadan-ro 10-gil (39 Usadan-ro 10-gil). The streets around the mosque have many halal and Muslim-owned restaurants, bakeries and grocers. Namsan and N Seoul Tower rise to the north, and Myeongdong is a short bus or taxi ride away.