Daegu Bukgu Offers Alternative Site for Suspended Mosque Project: "Request to Relocate to Former Daehyeon Police Substation Along the Road"

Daegu Bukgu District Office (District Mayor Lee Keunsoo) announced on the 10th that it has proposed a "mosque relocation plan through alternative site exchange," which would involve relocating the mosque to the site of the former Daehyeon Police Substation, as a practical alternative to resolve the ongoing conflict over the construction of the Daehyeon-dong Islamic mosque that was halted three years ago due to opposition from local residents. The proposal has been made to the building owners, including Muslim international students.

The issue surrounding the Daehyeon-dong Islamic mosque in Bukgu District, Daegu, has persisted over a long period, with a sharp conflict between the demands of nearby residents seeking protection of their right to a livable environment due to noise and congestion, and the demands of the building owners seeking freedom of religion and protection of property rights.

Daegu Buk-gu Office

The current site is located at the end of a narrow alley in a densely populated residential area. Even if the mosque were to be completed, there are structural limitations that would likely lead to continual complaints about noise and congestion due to high user concentration. For this reason, there have been ongoing concerns that simple mediation of civil complaints or partial facility enhancements would not be sufficient to resolve this conflict.

Construction of the Daehyeon-dong Islamic mosque in Bukgu District, Daegu, began in December 2020, but was halted in December 2023, largely due to opposition from local residents.

Daegu Bukgu District Office plans to propose a policy shift toward fundamentally resolving the underlying reasons for the conflict, by suggesting a "mosque relocation plan through alternative site exchange" that mutually respects both residential and religious activity environments.

If the building owners positively consider this plan, Daegu Bukgu District Office will review alternative sites, including the old Daehyeon Police Substation, to meet the site requirements requested by Muslim international students.

An official from Daegu Bukgu District Office stated, "Since the construction site where work is currently suspended is in a residential area, there has been significant opposition from local residents. However, the former Daehyeon Police Substation, currently under review as an alternative site, is located on a road and far from any residential neighborhood. If the student community from the mosque side and others agree, we will proceed with the site exchange."

○ District Mayor Lee Keunsoo stated, "To resolve a conflict that has lasted for an extended period, there must be a practical solution that reflects both sides’ interests in a balanced way. If the building owners (including Muslim international students) actively engage in the discussion, we will do our best—even under difficult fiscal conditions—to prepare viable solutions in cooperation with national property management authorities and other relevant agencies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.