WEBZINE ACC

Spring 2023, as the establishment of the government's Overseas Korean Agency becomes more tangible, discussions about its establishment are in full swing. The residents of Koryo Village in Wolgok-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, where thousands of Koryo-saram gather and live, have joined forces with the city of Gwangju to actively support the establishment of the Overseas Korean Agency. The collaborative efforts between Korean diaspora (Koryoin) organizations and local autonomous bodies to attract a central administrative agency is something we have not witnessed before. Who are the residents of Gwangju's Koryo Village, who have shown such efforts, and what kind of collaboration has the Asia Culture Center had with them?

Korean immigration history and settlement in Gwangju

Koryoin or Koryo-saram refers to Koreans who lived in various regions of the Soviet Union. They migrated from the Korean Peninsula to the Russian Empire during the late Joseon dynasty period and the period of Japanese colonial rule. According to records, they have lived in the Primorsky Krai region of Russia since around 1860.

Residence of early Korean immigrants in Primorsky Krai, illustrated in the book <Diverse Russia> compiled by the Russian Imperial Court in 1985. Image provided by Kim Byeong-hak, Director of Wolgok Koryoin Culture Museum.

Koryo-saram who were living in the Russian Far East due to various reasons such as resistance against Japanese colonial rule and the independence movement were forcibly relocated to Central Asia in 1937 following a decision by the Soviet government. The narrative of those who migrated from the Russian Far East through Siberia to Kazakhstan is remembered as a painful chapter in Korean history.

The Koryoin in Kazakhstan later migrated to various regions throughout Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. However, with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the subsequent independence of the five Central Asian countries, the lives of the Koryoin underwent significant changes. Market economy and exclusive ethno-nationalism brought opportunities to some Koryoin individuals, but for the majority, it posed a threat and a crisis. Some Koryoin faced difficulties where they either lost their jobs or had to compromise their social status. On the other hand, thanks to the easing of the Cold War era, pathways began to open for Korean diaspora to immigrate to their historical homeland, South Korea. However, it was not an easy task for the Korean diaspora who finally managed to enter the country after going through various hardships to be warmly received as returning compatriots. Their residency status was similar to that of foreigners, and at first glance, they seemed to occupy a somewhat ambiguous position between foreigners and Koreans.

A dugout house in a Koryoin collective farm (1954)
Even after more than 10 years since the forced migration, some Koryoin continued to live in houses with the same structure as the dugouts they had dug to escape the cold during the forced migration. Provided by Kim Byeong-hak, Director of Wolgok Koryoin Culture Museum

The settlement of Koryoin who immigrated from Central Asia and Russia in the Wolgok-dong area of Gwangju began around 2010. As one or two families began to gather, a village formed where Korean diaspora started living together. One of the unique aspects of the Gwangju Koryoin Village is that over five thousand Korean diaspora are concentrated in a specific area known as Wolgok-dong. The Korean diaspora who settled in Gwangju were able to find work in fields such as in Naju, Hampyeong, and Muan or easily find employment at the nearby Hanam Industrial Complex. They were also able to afford relatively inexpensive monthly rent in housing complexes built in the mid 1990s. The enactment of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Support Municipal Ordinance for Koryoin Residents by the Gwangju Metropolitan Council in 2013, along with various support from the civic society in Gwangju, helped facilitate the settlement of Korean diaspora in the city. There was empathy towards the difficulties faced by Korean diaspora who struggled to settle and did not receive appropriate treatment as returning compatriots.

Collaborative production of <I Am Koryoin> to remember the 80th anniversary of the forced migration of Korean diaspora

In the spring of 2017, in remembrance of the 80th anniversary of the forced migration of Korean diaspora, the Committee for Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of Koryoin Forced Migration ("Committee") was established in Gwangju. It was composed of over 50 religious and civic organizations in Gwangju, as well as around 150 individuals from various fields. The Committee planned the Commemorative Cultural Festival for the 80th Anniversary of Koryoin Forced Migration, which included exhibitions, performances, forums, and other events, aiming to raise awareness of the history and existence of Korean diaspora among the citizens of Gwangju. The festival aimed to foster a sense of coexistence between Gwangju citizens and Korean diaspora. The ACC also participated as a co-host of the cultural festival and successfully staged the thematic performance <I Am Koryoin>.

Scene from the opening performance of the Asia Culture Week in 2020, <I Am Koryoin>

The ACC shared performance venue facilities, resources, personnel, and archival materials with the Gwangju Koryoin Village and local universities during the collaborative production process of <I Am Koryoin>. The Center actively participated not only in providing facilities, resources, and funding but also in co-creating the storytelling of the Korean diaspora immigration narrative. It actively engaged in providing and verifying materials used in performances, contributing to the overall composition of the narrative.

The performance <I Am Koryoin> is a collaborative cultural content jointly produced by the ACC, local organizations, and civic groups. It aims to support Koryoin, who are living protagonists of the Eurasian immigration history, with a heartfelt desire to assist them. The ACC recognizes the lives and stories of Koryo-saram who migrated from the Korean Peninsula, traversed Eurasia, and resettled in Gwangju as valuable resources. Through this performance, we hoped to improve the living conditions of these individuals and enhance their quality of life. Fortunately, following the performance of <I Am Koryoin>, the Enforcement Decree of the Overseas Korean Act was revised to recognize the overseas Korean residency status not only for up to the third generation but also without limitations based on generations.

It is great to hear that the ACC is currently hosting the exhibition <My Music, My Fatherland>, which explores the life and music of Jung Chu, who was active in Kazakhstan, in order to promote the transmission of Korean folk music. He departed from Gwangju, passed through Russia, and settled in Kazakhstan in Central Asia, where he recognized the importance of preserving the legacy of Koryo-saram songs and actively pursued it from an expert's perspective. Through the exhibition related to Jung Chu, who is both a folklorist and a composer, we will be able to learn about Koryo-saram, who are the living protagonists of the Eurasian migration history.

Based on the ACC's experience of collaborating with Koryoin and local organizations, we look forward to creating cultural content and engaging with a diverse range of individuals who embody the living essence of Asian culture. We anticipate continued collaboration with the public to create cultural content together. The expectation is that culture can bring life to people and provide hope to them.