Stereotyping Halal Food and Eating Halal Food in a South Korean Context

Abstract

The paper seeks to consider the confusion around what “Halal Food” is and what “Eating Halal Food” means in South Korea; and how it causes stereotyping of halal food and Muslim foodways in a South Korean context. The findings of this paper are obtained from ethnographic fieldwork and semi-structured interviews with South Koreans and Muslim minorities living in South Korea. Findings from the ethnographic research show that halal food and foodways are stereotyped not only when it comes to misidentifying halal food concepts, but also halal food consumed by Muslims is linked to existing notions about Islam and Muslims in South Korean society.