Catalyzing Halal Industry Development in a Non-Muslim Society: The Role of Indonesian Muslim Diaspora in South Korea

The rapid expansion of the global halal industry has created opportunities for halal ecosystem development in non-Muslim societies. In South Korea, however, halal industry growth faces challenges related to limited infrastructure, fragmented certification systems, and social stigma toward Islam and halal practices. This study examines the role of the Indonesian Muslim diaspora in catalyzing halal industry development in South Korea. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with eight key informants representing diaspora, institutional, academic, and policy stakeholders and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that the Indonesian Muslim diaspora contributes in three strategic ways: reducing social stigma through cultural diplomacy and public engagement, facilitating adaptive halal governance through halal certification and fiqh al-aqalliyyat-based approaches, and strengthening the halal ecosystem through mosques, halal businesses, educational activities, and community networks. The study proposes the concept of a progressive sharia diaspora to explain how diaspora actors mobilize social, religious, and economic capital to support inclusive halal governance and sustainable halal ecosystem development in non-Muslim societies.