Korea Muslim Federation (KMF)
Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) is a halal certification body in South Korea that holds recognition from JAKIM, Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development and the most influential authority in the global halal industry.
Source: JAKIM's official recognition list, gazetted under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, as at 30 January 2026.
| Country | South Korea |
|---|---|
| Address | 39 Usadan-ro10gil Yongsan-gu Seoul 04405 Republic of Korea |
| Contact person | Dr. Hussein Kim Dong Eok (President) Mr. Ahmad Cho Min Haeng (Halal Committee Chairman) |
| Telephone | +82-2 793 6908 |
| Fax | +82-2 798 9782 |
| kmfhalal@naver.com | |
| Recognition | JAKIM (gazetted, as at 30 January 2026) |
| Established | 1967 |
| Certifies | food, restaurants |
| Accredited by | HAK (Turkiye), accredited against OIC/SMIIC 2:2019 on 19 April 2024 |
| Also recognised by | BPJPH (Indonesia), CICOT (Thailand), MUIS (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) |
| Website | koreaislam.org |
Dual recognition: KMF is also listed on MUIS Singapore's Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies list, valid to 2029-03-08.
About KMF
The Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) is South Korea’s national Muslim organization, formed in the 1960s and registered as a juridical person with the Korean Ministry of Culture and Information in 1967. It operates from the Seoul Central Mosque area in Itaewon, Yongsan District, Seoul, and serves as the country’s principal religious authority for the Muslim community, which gives its halal certificates a standing that commercial certifiers in Korea cannot claim.
KMF has provided halal certification since 1994, focused on helping Korean food manufacturers reach Muslim majority export markets. Its certified portfolio also extends to restaurants inside Korea, supporting the country’s growing Muslim travel segment. In December 2023 the federation established the Halal Advancement Institute of Korea (HAI Korea), a subsidiary authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, to run its certification, training, auditing, and consultation services.
The federation’s certificates carry weight across Southeast Asia through mutual recognition arrangements with Indonesia’s BPJPH, signed in December 2022, as well as Singapore’s MUIS and Thailand’s CICOT. In April 2024, the Halal Accreditation Agency of Turkiye (HAK) accredited KMF against OIC/SMIIC 2:2019, aligning the body with the OIC’s harmonized halal framework. KMF has also engaged with contemporary halal questions, issuing a ruling in March 2025 that cultivated meat can be considered halal when produced under proper Islamic guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
Is KMF recognised by JAKIM?
Yes. Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) appears on JAKIM's official recognition list of international halal certification bodies, gazetted under Malaysia's Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, as at 30 January 2026.
What does JAKIM recognition mean for KMF?
JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) is widely regarded as the industry's most influential halal authority. Its recognition means halal certificates issued by KMF are accepted for products entering Malaysia, and it serves as a strong third-party credibility signal in the global halal trade.
Where is KMF based?
Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) is based in South Korea at 39 Usadan-ro10gil Yongsan-gu Seoul 04405 Republic of Korea.
Is KMF recognised outside Malaysia?
Yes. Besides JAKIM, Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) appears on MUIS Singapore's Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies list (valid to 2029-03-08), so its halal certificates are also accepted for the Singapore market. Recognition by two national authorities is a strong dual-market credibility signal for exporters.
When did the Korea Muslim Federation start certifying halal products?
KMF has issued halal certification since 1994, initially to help Korean manufacturers export to Muslim majority markets. In December 2023 it delegated day to day certification operations to the Halal Advancement Institute of Korea (HAI Korea), a subsidiary authorized by South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
What is the relationship between KMF and HAI Korea?
HAI Korea is a subsidiary body established by the Korea Muslim Federation on 13 December 2023 to carry out KMF's halal certification duties, along with consultation, training, process audits, and market research. Certificates continue to rest on KMF's religious authority as the national Muslim federation.
Is KMF the same organization as Korea Halal Authority (KHA)?
No. KMF is the national Muslim federation founded in the 1960s and based at the Seoul Central Mosque, while Korea Halal Authority Corporation is a separate private certification company headquartered in Osong, Cheongju. They operate independently of each other.
Related halal certification bodies
- Korea Halal Authority Corporation (KHA) · South Korea
- Islamic Centre of the Argentine Republic (Centro Islamico de la Republica Argentina) · Argentina
- The Halal Catering Argentina (THCA) · Argentina
- Australian Halal Authority & Advisers (AHAA) Pty. Ltd. · Australia