Evgeny Kim...That's unfair. The Korean-American community does welcome you especially the Christian community. Tell your stories and you'll find more sympathy because your history is our shared history. The oppressors were Stalin and Japan and your ancestors were forced out of your original homeland, Korea. It wasn't your choice just like Korean adoptees in America. Only language separates us because of unfortunate circumstances but since we are now both in America we can communicate through English to mend the past. Younger generations of Korean-Americans are more open-minded too, don't forget that. In the long run it's more tragic to ignore the larger Korean community this includes other diaspora like the Zainichi Koreans but they mostly reside in Japan.
Actually, in Kazakhstan, Koreans blend in easily due to their appearance so they are accepted easily there. This is less so the case in Russia or Uzbekistan since Koreans’ appearance looks more different in those regions. But in Kazakhstan, Koreans are never really seen as different. Same with the Korean diaspora in China and Japan since their appearance blends in easily in those countries (as long as they speak the language and behave the same).
Thank you for this video! A koryo saram here, living in Europe now :) I remember my grandma telling us how her parents fled Korea because of Japanese occupation. How our great-grandfather was taken to a labour camp for an accusation of having ties with Japan, eventually, he died in the labour camp. He was rehabilitated posthumously. Short stories of deportation in trains for cattle, life in a collective farm. My grandparents grew up in Kim Pen Hwa kolkhoz, not far from Tashkent. Kim Pen Hwa helped young people a lot to get documents (passports) so as to go and study in universities. Both of my grandparents managed to get a higher education despite being extremely poor.
Over 170,000 Koreans were forcefully deported, about 10,000 died in the train from hunger and sickness, not to mention the thousands who later die at the barren land with nothing to live on.
As a Korean American growing up in NYC, I was unaware of koryo people until I moved to Korea and became friends with a whole bunch of them as well as white Russian and Ukrainians. I connected to these folks in a way that I couldn't connect with Koreans from Korea cuz we both understood the struggle.
I think we must know our own language(korean). Korean is the first priority. I live in Europe and can Swedish, English, Ryssian, but korean is always will be in my heart.
This is absolutely fascinating. My parents were raised in Brighton Beach in the 1930's/1940's. I spent a lot of time there with my grandparents in the 1960's-1980's. It's too bad that the Koryo Saram are not eligible for Korean citizenship. I remember for a while, Japanese Brazilians were moving to Japan, but it did not work out too well, mostly because they did not speak Japanese.
So sad even Koreans are keeping themselves at arm’s length to these people though they are ethnically koreans. I’m glad that my country has citizenship by blood! Sending prayers for Korean Saram people.
I knew a girl in my high school who was adopted from Kazakstan. She was of Korean ancestry. She was basically a Koryo Saram. But sadly she doesn't know her Kazakhstan culture.
I’m a Korean adoptee. I didn’t know much about Korean culture either (and I grew up in the era without internet). Nowadays, it’s very easy to find info online. Usually, we (adoptees) start getting curious in our late teens / early 20s.
My colleagues on Asian American Life found them because there were a few Russian Korean businesses in Brooklyn, NY -- like restaurants and barbers. Then when we dug a little further -- we found a whole community with a fascinating history!
Oh that's nice. Yeah in the beginning I thought I recognized the barbershop (Elegant Barber shop). Yes, I've also been to the Koryo Saram restaurants in Brooklyn also. Thanks again!
To appease Japan, Lenin's men lured Korean guerillas to Svovodny (Freedom City) and ordered them to disarm. When they disobeyed, the Red Army massacred about 1500 and arrested almost the same. They sent these men to Central Asia. A legendary Korean guerrilla general (홍범도) became a guard of a movie theater in Kazakhstan.
Вот именно. Живем в России, мы нормально живем. Может, не богаты, но у всех высшее образование, магазины полны продуктами, можем отдыхать в разных странах мира, своя недвижимость в России и за границей.
As the Red army fought against Japanese from 1918 to 1921 when the latter intervened in the revolution, Koreans in the USSR became most loyal to Bolshevism. There is even a Korean immigrant among a dozen world-renowned communists, as a founder of Commintern. However, after 1921, the USSR and Japan got along well. When Japan invaded China in 1937, the USSR was totally saved from the danger of a war with Japan. So Stalin sent a present to Japan. He executed a couple of thousands of educated Koreans in the Far East and deported more than 200k Korean immigrants to Central Asia.
Talking about her parents and grandparents living in extreme poverty. I’m from the USA , guess what my parents were poor also. Mom and dad had to beg for a company vehicles and for company gas card because they couldn’t afford to live a life of normalcy while easing 4 children. It is what it is. Great story though. I’ve learned a lot about a race I know nothing about. NAMASTE ~M
Interesting, my experience was the opposite. Growing up in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, many of my korean friends and their parents were quite successful, especially by those 90s post soviet collapse era standards. To be fair, also in that era millions of people were poor, not a good time for anyone in central asia unless of course they were racketeers 😅
Sad but true, Koreasarams are not Russians/Uzbek/Kazakh/Ukrainian neither Koreans. We are by ourselves with own culture and without homeland.
Thanks for commenting Evgeny Kim.
Evgeny Kim...That's unfair. The Korean-American community does welcome you especially the Christian community. Tell your stories and you'll find more sympathy because your history is our shared history. The oppressors were Stalin and Japan and your ancestors were forced out of your original homeland, Korea. It wasn't your choice just like Korean adoptees in America. Only language separates us because of unfortunate circumstances but since we are now both in America we can communicate through English to mend the past. Younger generations of Korean-Americans are more open-minded too, don't forget that. In the long run it's more tragic to ignore the larger Korean community this includes other diaspora like the Zainichi Koreans but they mostly reside in Japan.
That's basically every new immigrant...
Actually, in Kazakhstan, Koreans blend in easily due to their appearance so they are accepted easily there. This is less so the case in Russia or Uzbekistan since Koreans’ appearance looks more different in those regions. But in Kazakhstan, Koreans are never really seen as different. Same with the Korean diaspora in China and Japan since their appearance blends in easily in those countries (as long as they speak the language and behave the same).
You're Korean man, no matter what they say, you're pure Korean. Love from Turkey
Thank you for this video! A koryo saram here, living in Europe now :)
I remember my grandma telling us how her parents fled Korea because of Japanese occupation.
How our great-grandfather was taken to a labour camp for an accusation of having ties with Japan, eventually, he died in the labour camp. He was rehabilitated posthumously.
Short stories of deportation in trains for cattle, life in a collective farm. My grandparents grew up in Kim Pen Hwa kolkhoz, not far from Tashkent.
Kim Pen Hwa helped young people a lot to get documents (passports) so as to go and study in universities. Both of my grandparents managed to get a higher education despite being extremely poor.
I loved that you shared your grandparent's story with us!! Thank you😊
Over 170,000 Koreans were forcefully deported, about 10,000 died in the train from hunger and sickness, not to mention the thousands who later die at the barren land with nothing to live on.
Thanks for sharing Don C!!
As a Korean American growing up in NYC, I was unaware of koryo people until I moved to Korea and became friends with a whole bunch of them as well as white Russian and Ukrainians. I connected to these folks in a way that I couldn't connect with Koreans from Korea cuz we both understood the struggle.
Your work must be considered and known. Really good job, I've learned a lot
Thank you Jacques orde!!
I think we must know our own language(korean). Korean is the first priority. I live in Europe and can Swedish, English, Ryssian, but korean is always will be in my heart.
This is absolutely fascinating. My parents were raised in Brighton Beach in the 1930's/1940's. I spent a lot of time there with my grandparents in the 1960's-1980's. It's too bad that the Koryo Saram are not eligible for Korean citizenship. I remember for a while, Japanese Brazilians were moving to Japan, but it did not work out too well, mostly because they did not speak Japanese.
Thanks for sharing! I really appreciate it! 😊
So sad even Koreans are keeping themselves at arm’s length to these people though they are ethnically koreans. I’m glad that my country has citizenship by blood! Sending prayers for Korean Saram people.
What is your country? afaik Germany, Israel give citizenship by blood.
thank you this story , thank you for your hard work. we do woe a lot to our parent and our ancestors. thank you
Thank you for your comment! I really appreciate it! :)
I knew a girl in my high school who was adopted from Kazakstan. She was of Korean ancestry. She was basically a Koryo Saram. But sadly she doesn't know her Kazakhstan culture.
Maybe she'll stumble upon the story! Thanks for checking it out!
I’m a Korean adoptee. I didn’t know much about Korean culture either (and I grew up in the era without internet). Nowadays, it’s very easy to find info online. Usually, we (adoptees) start getting curious in our late teens / early 20s.
Super interesting! Thank you for this video!
Fascinating!
thanks!!
Thank you for this video! Most people have no idea who the Koryo Saram are in the states.
Thanks Carol Han! I really appreciate the comment!! :)
You're welcome! :) I was just curious how did you come across to film an episode about this topic?
My colleagues on Asian American Life found them because there were a few Russian Korean businesses in Brooklyn, NY -- like restaurants and barbers. Then when we dug a little further -- we found a whole community with a fascinating history!
Oh that's nice. Yeah in the beginning I thought I recognized the barbershop (Elegant Barber shop). Yes, I've also been to the Koryo Saram restaurants in Brooklyn also. Thanks again!
Koryo Saram literally means Korea People in Korean
thank you for sharing this story!
Thanks for watching it! I didn't know about them until I worked on this story!
To appease Japan, Lenin's men lured Korean guerillas to Svovodny (Freedom City) and ordered them to disarm. When they disobeyed, the Red Army massacred about 1500 and arrested almost the same. They sent these men to Central Asia. A legendary Korean guerrilla general (홍범도) became a guard of a movie theater in Kazakhstan.
Thank you!
Very Useful Video
Thanks
if Russia loses the war and gets decolonized, one of their Central Asian oblasts should be made for a Koryo Saram ethnostate
Иди на х. Россия не проиграет
It’s not Russian Cuisine. It’s Uzbek Plov.
Yea you are right. Uzbek cuisine.
It varies from country to country
Вот именно. Живем в России, мы нормально живем. Может, не богаты, но у всех высшее образование, магазины полны продуктами, можем отдыхать в разных странах мира, своя недвижимость в России и за границей.
As the Red army fought against Japanese from 1918 to 1921 when the latter intervened in the revolution, Koreans in the USSR became most loyal to Bolshevism. There is even a Korean immigrant among a dozen world-renowned communists, as a founder of Commintern.
However, after 1921, the USSR and Japan got along well. When Japan invaded China in 1937, the USSR was totally saved from the danger of a war with Japan. So Stalin sent a present to Japan. He executed a couple of thousands of educated Koreans in the Far East and deported more than 200k Korean immigrants to Central Asia.
Talking about her parents and grandparents living in extreme poverty. I’m from the USA , guess what my parents were poor also. Mom and dad had to beg for a company vehicles and for company gas card because they couldn’t afford to live a life of normalcy while easing 4 children. It is what it is. Great story though. I’ve learned a lot about a race I know nothing about. NAMASTE ~M
Interesting, my experience was the opposite. Growing up in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, many of my korean friends and their parents were quite successful, especially by those 90s post soviet collapse era standards. To be fair, also in that era millions of people were poor, not a good time for anyone in central asia unless of course they were racketeers 😅
Make that their third home...
고려 사람 다큐멘터리 (영어입니다)
Koryo Saram - The "Unreliable People" DOCUMENTARY
m.czcams.com/video/5jwsSTNVQwY/video.html
Is there Koryo Saram community in Los Angeles?
“When you think of Russian American culture…”
Koreans are not Russians.
Also, 1:04 - Wrong map of Ukraine.
Koryo Saram were tributes to the Mongol empire, when the empire collapsed they were forgotten and left behind.
Thanks for sharing Naked Eagle!!
Her face shape is so funny lol
What?