The Protestant Right and the Rise of Islamophobia in South Korea

This article investigates the role of the Protestant Right in fostering Islamophobia in South Korea. It demonstrates that right-wing Protestant groups have strategically utilized their organizational networks to disseminate anti- Islamic rhetoric through three primary methods. First, they construct a narrative of 'Islamization' by invoking Europe's 'failed multiculturalism' as a cautionary example. Second, they employ nationalist discourse to portray Islam as a threat to Korean sovereignty. Third, they manipulate the language of human rights to exclude Muslims and prioritize the rights of Korean nationals. The article analyzes two key sources of data: (1) online ethnographic data from far-right Protestant speakers who have been vocal on the issue of Islam, and (2) ethnographic data collected from Daegu prayer rallies opposing mosque construction or a halal food complex.