Investigation of Legality and Certification Process of Halal Product Guarantee

Recently, the trend of the halal industry has become a global discussion, attracting interest not only from Muslim-majority countries but also from Muslim-minority countries like South Korea. South Korea has shown significant efforts in promoting and developing halal tourism. In this context, it is essential to conduct an in-depth study on halal certification. Typically, halal certification is associated with Muslim-majority countries, not secular countries like South Korea. Therefore, this study aims to deeply explore the legality and process of halal certification carried out by South Korea, a country with a Muslim minority. This qualitative research uses a phenomenological approach to obtain an emic perspective on halal certification. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with the president and members of the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF), which oversees the halal committee in South Korea. Observations were also made to assess several halal restaurants and products there. The findings were documented as material for data analysis, which was conducted in several stages: data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results indicate that in the policy of halal certification, the South Korean government collaborates with KMF for the halal certification process. Unfortunately, this policy is not supported by adequate human resources. Therefore, KMF collaborates with Muslim-majority countries to support the halal certification process. The cultural aspect of South Korean society, which often contrasts with Islam, also poses a unique challenge in the halal certification policy. It is recommended that exhibitions be held to promote halal products in South Korea so that the halal certification policy is not opposed

Certification · Islam · Principle of legality · Halal products and consumer behavior · Religion, Theology, and Education · Sustainability and Innovation in Business