Formation and Development Features of the Russian-Speaking Koreans Community in South Korea
- Authors: KIM H.J.1, JUNG Y.2
-
Affiliations:
- Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
- Department of Russian Language and Literature, Yonsei University
- Issue: No 8 (2025)
- Pages: 119-131
- Section: ЭТНОСОЦИОЛОГИЯ
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/0132-1625/article/view/328077
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.31857/S0132162525080106
- ID: 328077
Open Access
Access granted
Subscription Access
Abstract
As the number of Russian-speaking Koreans (Koryoin) flowing into South Korea increases every year, their densely populated residences are being formed in various regions of the country. In some places, these zones are developed into full-fledged communities, while in others, they remain simply densely populated areas of Russian-speaking Koreans. This article examines the formation and development of the Koryoin community in the urban-type settlement of Poseung, Pyeongtaek City, which is home to an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 Koryoin. This study focuses on the role of the village headman, his wife and Russian-speaking Korean migrants in the development of the community. Their activities, based on the effective use of the resources of a small administrative unit, have become a key factor contributing to its intensive development. A notable feature of this community is the active involvement of elderly Russian-speaking Koreans, previously excluded from labor and production activities, in participation in public life.
About the authors
H. J. KIM
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies
Email: arina@hufs.ac.kr
Seoul, Republic of Korea
Y. JUNG
Department of Russian Language and Literature, Yonsei University
Email: yj_jung25@yonsei.ac.kr
Seoul, Republic of Korea
References
- Akulenko V. (2024) Research Data Collection on Koryoin Maul in Korea. Seoul: Hakgojaebooks. (In Korean)
- Akulenko V. (2024) The Phenomenon of Ethnocultural Enclaves of Russophone Koreans ‘Koryoin Maul’ in South Korea. International Journal of Korean History. Vol. 29. No. 2: 133–164.
- An N., Lee M. (2019) A Study of the Content of Human Geography Education in Pyeongtaek City. Korean Studies. Vol. 71: 149–166. (In Korean)
- Azimova N., Jung Y. (2024) A Preliminary Study on Designing Programs to Enhance Reading Comprehension for Russian-Speaking Migrant Youth in Korea. Russian Language and Literature. Vol. 87: 81–105. (In Korean)
- Choi Y. (2019) Survey on Living Conditions and Settlement of Russian-speaking Koreans in Gyeonggi-do. Suwon: GRI. (In Korean)
- Kim K. (2014) Migration and Settlement of ‘Koryein’ in Central Asian Countries to Korea with particular reference to ‘Koryeinmaeul’ in Gwangju Metropolitan. Journal of International Area Studies. Vol. 17. No. 4: 259–282. (In Korean)
- Monthly Statistics Report of Korea Immigration Service. (2024) October. 2024.
- No Y.-S., Lee J.-H., Hyeon M. (2022) Life and Culture of Russian-speaking Migrants in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do. Seoul: National Fork Museum of Korea.
- Oh J.-E., Kim K., Song S. (2015) Survey on the Russian-speaking Koreans in Korea II. Seoul: Foundation of Overseas Koreans. (In Korean)
- Shin Y J. (2013) A study on the change of a hinterland according to the opening of a Pyeongtaek port. Journal of the Korean Association of Regional Geographers. Vol. 19. No. 3: 416–435. (In Korean)
- Sun B.-K. (2017) A Study on the Formation and Spatial Characteristics of Ethnic Enclave: Focused on the Koryinmaeul in Gwangju Metropolitan. Journal of Northeast Asian Studies. Vol. 83: 193–214. (In Korean)
- Teng H.-C., Chung J.-K. (2024) Goryeoin Village in Gwangju, South Korea, and Its Socio-Cultural-Historical Significance. Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia. Vol. 23. No. 1: 1–17.
- Yeo Y. F.M. (2024) Beyond Korean: Post-Soviet Korean Diasporic Identities in South Korea’s Koryo-saram Enclaves. Master’s thesis. Nanyang Technological University.
