ST Invisible Asia

‘Many Koreans have big misunderstandings about Islam,’ says a Muslim convert in South Korea

South Korea's Muslim minority

'Many Koreans have big misunderstandings about Islam,' says a Muslim convert in South Korea

Ms Song Bo-ra, who is from Busan, converted to Islam in 2007 after reading about it for years. But it was only after moving to Seoul about seven years ago that she started wearing the headscarf every day.

INVISIBLE ASIA: The Philippines' young and abused

'I was afraid I'd be rejected if I told people of my abuse'

Far left: Mr Erick Reyes, 44, at a coffee shop he runs. His early experience with sexual abuse and domestic violence led to years of struggling with his gender identity, addiction to sex and risky, self-destructive behaviour. Left: Mr Reyes as a boy

‘I was afraid I’d be rejected if I told people of my abuse’

Japan's 'untouchables'

'We're fighting to end age-old prejudice'

In 1925, about 3,000 non-burakumin attacked 15 households of burakumin in Serada village, in Gunma prefecture - setting fire to homes and physically harming villagers. Left and above: A burakumin settlement. Burakumin, meaning "hamlet people", are th

‘I wanted to escape this life by hiding who I was’

‘I still can’t call myself a Hong Konger’

Hong Kong's silent outsiders

'I still can't call myself a Hong Konger'

SHANDONG NATIVE, NEW IN HONG KONG Ms Yue Meng Ying inside a cafeteria at Hong Kong Baptist University, where she is a student. She said her experiences with discrimination are rare and usually linked to language as she cannot speak Cantonese. BORN IN

‘What’s worse than the job is the humiliation we face’

India's sewer cleaners

'What's worse than the job is the humiliation we face'

ABOVE: Mr Pedanna G, 55, waiting for work at his usual place near the fish market of a middle-class neighbourhood in south Bangalore. He is what is known in India as a manual scavenger, someone who cleans toilets, drains and manholes by hand. RIGHT:

E-paper

Newsletters

Podcasts

RSS Feed

About Us

Terms & Conditions

Personal Data Protection Notice

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us

MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.