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81 F a r f r o m h o m e Sam Sadkle is a Muslim refugee from Syria who first came to Seoul with his father on a business trip in 2005. He finally settled in the city in 2013 after his father was killed by Assad’s forces in Damascus. Sadkle was living in Dubai at the time, but chose to claim asylum in Korea. “Korea was the best choice for me,” he explained. “I couldn’t get a visa in Dubai and I already knew the Korean language and society. I wanted to start a new life.” The 29-year-old found work as manager of the Salam Bak- ery in Itaewon, where he makes and sells traditional Turkish, Arabic and other Middle Eastern desserts. More than 40 per- cent of his customers are Korean, with the rest coming from the immigrant population, many who attend the local mosque. He recalled how the Muslim population has changed since he first arrived. “More and more Korean people are entering Islam,” he said. “Saudi Arabia is supporting the Muslim center and a primary school (in Seoul). There is a workshop on Saturdays and Sun- days about Islam and to teach Arabic.” He admits he does not visit the mosque every day to pray, often praying at home near to his work. “I am an irregular Mus- lim,” he said. Despite his faith being a minority in Ko- rea, he said he feels no animosity from non-Muslim Koreans. “People here do not care about your religion, if you are Chris- tian or Buddhist or Muslim,” he claimed. But he realizes there are still issues for Muslims living here, including a lack of political leadership. “They do not have a Korean leader for Islam,” he said. “They do not have a Sheikh. The government are favored towards Christians or Bud- dhists but there is no one (in Korea) sup- porting Islam.” Personally, his main struggle upon settling here was less faith-based and more about finding food to fit his tastes. “The first time I ate kimchi, I threw up everything from my stomach,” he recalled. “But now I can’t eat anything without it.” However safe Sadkle feels as a Muslim in Korea, having previously worked in refugee camps on the Turkish and Jorda- nian borders with Syria, he desperately wants to return home. “The situation in Syria is getting worse. My father died in the revolution,” he said. “I have no choice but to be here.” ‘ K o r e a w a s t h e b e s t c h o i c e f o r m e . I c o u l d n ’ t g e t a v i s a i n D u b a i a n d I a l r e a d y k n e w t h e K o r e a n l a n g u a g e a n d s o c i e t y . I w a n t e d t o s t a r t a n e w l i f e . ’ Sam Sadkle, manager of the Salam Bakery