From: andrew@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Andrew Sung Hyun Kim)
Subject: Koreans in former USSR
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois.
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 04:34:33 GMT


Koreans in Uzbekstan,

Recently there has been many sad news that has been coming out of former
Soviet Union.  Most of the news have been from Uzbekstan and Kazakstan 
region (Capital Alma-ata with Korean population of over 10k).  This is
area that boarders China to the west.  There are reported to be around 
1/2 million Korean decendents living in these area alone.  As some 
of you know, they were forcibly placed there during the Stalin time.  
Stalin forced their migration from regions near Vladivostok in early 30's.  
Most of these people were farmers.  One of the official reasons given was 
that since Korean people were hard workers who can turn barren land into
breadbasket, they were resettled to the present day Khazakstan in order
to 1) turn the land into arable land, 2) show the local people what
hard work can accomplish.  Without prior notice, Koreans were moved
to the new land.  Barren and salty land awaited them in the stepps
of Muslim dominated land.  There they worked the land with trial and
error and hard work to make it into a productive land.  There they
showed the local people what hard work can accomplish.

But, Koreans achieved much more than this.  With Confucian ideal
about education, Koreans gained entrance into universities.  Koreans
begin to hold important positions in the government.  In the city
such as Alma-ata, such position as professorship, engineer, principle,
doctos, etc... jobs were held by Koreans.   However, one thing that 
they have not taken into consideration was the consequence of the 
break up of former Soviet Union.  The break up meant resurgence of 
the nationalism.

Nationalism meant that recovering of old language, religion, custom,
and self-determination.  Obviously, Korean decendents did not fit into
the new direction of these nations.  At first Koreans were fired from
their position as teachers, principals, etc... citing that new language
will be spoken in that region.  For Korean who did not know the
native language, this meant sudden unemployment.  This was the situation
about 5 month ago.  Now, the situation has turned for the worse.  In the
Tajak (sp?) area which has approximately 13,000 Korean population, it was
reported that 7,000 have became a refugee and have flee their home but
without destination.  They have essentially became gypsies.  Help was
requested to the Russian government.  However, the request has fallen
on deaf ears.  Russia has its own problems.  There has been cases of
murders and violence against Koreans; but, who will listen and who
will help them.  These kind of violence it seems is unfortunately
widespread.

It is very interesting that these Koreans call themselves "KoKuRyo-In".
It is to me a 'better' term than either 'jho-sun-in' or 'han-gook-in'.
It implies that Korea is one, not two like these two above terms
imply.  There was a special on SBS last year which aired around
Chu-suk which highlighted these Koreans.  It was two part documentary.
The second part was called something like, "Alma-at, Pyongyang to
Seoul".  These Koreans living near Alma-Ata decided to make a
car trip to Korea.  They received permit from DPRK to enter, and was
hoping to be able to cross the DMZ and enter the ROK and see Seoul.

Koreans there learned of economic might of ROK via broadcast of
88 Olymic.  Many had distinct way of speaking Korean (HamKyungDo
style).  They left Alma-ata in high expectation, to see their
motherland.  But, their dream remain just that.  After much
ordeal, after reaching the DPRK boarder, DPRK officials refused
the entry of the group.  The official reason given was that they
arrived too late.  They arrived there few days after the
8-15, and thus were no longer need in their parade.  However,
from my observation, the reason might have something to do with
the SBS newscast team that followed their progress and had their
journey being reported.  After making over 3500 mile one way journey
they had to return back.  They came back to see their motherland;
but, what they found was the reality that divided nation had
much more important things to consider than the long lost son's
longing to see the motherland.

Who will stop the rain?

Who will look out for them, if not ROK?   They were the victims of
nation which ceased to exist.  Not of their own fault they were
thrown halfway across to unfamiliar land. 

It is interesting to note the situations of German-Russians
who were in the same boat as Koreans.  German government has
taken full responsibility of taking them out of Russia.  
So far, ROK government have not lifted a finger to help
out these unfortunate lost brothers.  Maybe writing to
Korean consulate or the embassy is as equally important as
writing protest to Japanese embassy about its dark past.

This has gotten longer than I expected......

I hope that readers share my concern for these Koreans
In midst of persecution, who have been overlooked even by
South Korean government.  

Anyway, hope it will be a happier new year for all Koreans
no matter where they may reside.

Thank you for bearing with this rather lengthy post.

--
Andrew Sung Hyun Kim  (708) 491-5294(o) 570-0584(h) andrew@casbah.acns.nwu.edu
"Thus I saw that most men care for science so far as they get a living
 by it, and they worship error when it afford them a subsistence."
                                                Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


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