Support to Koryoin settlers

Background

Who are the Koryoins (in Russian: ???? ?????)?

Koryoin is a name given to Koreans and their descendants living in various post-soviet countries (Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine. etc.). Before the reform and opening up, Koryoins living in the Soviet Union called themselves ChosonIn (Choson people) as Koreans living in Japan.

The history of koryoins begins in 1863 when the Koryoin crossed the Tuman River and migrated to the Primorsky Territory. They formed a Koryoin village and became the stage for major activities of independence movements such as the government of the liberation army of Korea.

However, between 1930 and 1937, they were deported to various countries in Central Asia according to Stalin's policy of forced migration of Koryoin. The Soviet authorities did not give the Koryoin community time to respond properly by notifying them of the relocation three or seven days in advance, and many Koreans were helplessly loaded onto the train and dragged to the opposite side of Asia, Central Asia. The migration that took place in September ended in November, and hundreds of Koryoins died on the train due to the poor environment. Leaders of the Koryoin community were either imprisoned or sentenced to imprisonment, and some were shot to death for counter-intelligence. Those who resisted or even delayed the migration were arrested and punished by the NKVD, or in severe cases even executed. As a result of the forced migration, 172,481 Koryoins were relocated to Central Asia (Uzbekistan: 76,526, Kazakhstan: 95,256), and 40,000 people died by 1938. The reason for the forced migration of Koryoins was that some of Koryoins were acting as Japanese spies and that Koryoins in the Primorsky Territory supported the Koryoins independence movement to stimulate Japan

However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, their lives were not easy. Due to the political and economic crisis, they re-migrate to various parts of Eurasia, and they are often excluded from their countries due to the nationalist winds that arose after independence. This is one of the reasons why they come back to Korea by looking back on the long journey their ancestors had gone through.

They have been coming back to Korea since 2007. However, most of them did not speak Korean, so it was difficult to return to Korea. They are about 500,000 KoryoIn, among them there are 90,000 KoryoIn who have registered their residence in Korea, living in Korea.

Recently, the number of Koryoin fleeing from the war of Uzbekistan is about 1,200, and it continues to increase. Most of them are young women with infants and the elderly excluding men conscripted in the war. Even now, more than 1,000 people are unable to come because they do not have money to buy plane tickets.

Objective

To raise awareness and social justice on the diaspora of peoples in countries that have experienced colonization.

Activities

• Financial aid to associations that support Goryeo people. Direct support to the organisation Neomeo, one of the three Koryoin centres accross the country. 
• Following the beginning of the 2022 war in Ukraine, support to Koreans fleeing the war-torn country. 

People being served : People who are marginalised

Age group : Adults 26-60, Children 0-17, Seniors 61-99, Young people 18-25

Number of participants : >500

Project status : Ongoing

Society presence : Korea/Chinese

Focus of the project : People

JPIC Imperative : Transforming and Being Transformed, Washing One Another’s Feet

UN Sustainable Development Goals : 1 No Poverty, 10 Reduced Inequalities, 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions