The people who are the main population of two states of the Korean Peninsula: the Republic of Korea and the DPRK. They also live in many Asian countries. The total number in all countries of the world exceeds 81 million people. Of these, the Republic of Korea accounts for the majority - about 50 million. North Korea has a population of 24 million.

There are large diasporas of Koreans in other countries. More than a million Koreans live in China and the United States. You can also find them in Central Asia, Japan, Russia, Canada, Australia, and the Philippines. Language - Korean. They can also use the languages ​​of their countries of residence for communication. Most Koreans are adherents of atheism, not leaning towards any religion. However, there are supporters of Confucianism, Christianity, Buddhism, and traditional animist beliefs. Before the 14th century, the importance of Buddhism was greater than it is now.

Koreans are an ancient people. They go back to the proto-Altai peoples; ethnogenesis was also influenced by Paleo-Asians and inhabitants of Austronesia. In the 1st millennium BC, Joseon, a near-state formation, arose. From him came the self-name of the Koreans, Choson Saram. Later, at the beginning of our era, the Koreans were influenced by the Han tribes.

Representatives of the people traditionally engaged in arable farming. They grew rice (the basis of the entire Korean diet), corn, millet, beans, vegetables, and melons. Cattle breeding was less developed and was limited to the use of animals for subsidiary agricultural work. Sericulture became widespread, as did fishing and other marine industries in coastal areas. Korean artisans became famous for their ceramic and lacquer products. At present, the transition from traditional farming to developed industry has been completed. Both the Republic of Korea and the DPRK managed to achieve a high level of development, only the first state was on a capitalist basis, and the second was on a communist basis.

Rural residents retain elements of their national pre-industrial culture. The homes they build for themselves are still quite traditional. The houses are coated with clay and rise on peculiar earthen foundations fifty centimeters high. Such housing is heated by a chimney laid under the floor. This heating method is called ondol. Surprisingly, the Koreans have preserved it even in modern cities, only partially modernizing it. Just for fun, let’s say that more often than any other technology, in Korean homes you can see a very old version of the radio. Buying a radio is not difficult - at any market. They differ only in design and manner of execution.

Among rural people, men traditionally wore white trousers and a wrap-around jacket. Women wore short jegori blouses, loose-fitting pants and the same skirt called chhima. In winter, women wore cotton robes. Shoes - straw sandals; in bad weather they wore high shoes made of wood. At home they took off their shoes and walked barefoot. Now Koreans have massively switched to European-style clothing.

The basis of the Korean diet is seasoned rice. The most popular meat is pork; dog meat is less commonly consumed. In general, Korean cuisine is characterized by an abundance of seasonings (garlic and pepper). The alcoholic drink is warm vodka made from rice.

For a long time, Koreans maintained the rudiments of tribal relations. It got to the point that everyone with the same last name began to be considered relatives. This perception was influenced, among other things, by Confucianism and the cult of ancestors.

The question of the origin of the Korean people still remains open. There are many versions explaining the emergence of Koreans in our world. According to one of them, the Korean people first formed about 6,000 years ago and lived in the territory of modern Siberia. Then, as a result of migration, settlement occurred, which stopped on the Korean Peninsula. At that time, the Mak tribes lived there, with whom the Siberian tribes managed to establish relations.
Another version says that the ancestors of the Koreans are the current Altaians. Migration affected Manchuria, the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The unification of the tribes was facilitated by the opposition to the Chinese Yihan.
According to DNA research, the Korean people first formed in the vicinity of Lake Baikal. Anthropologists classify them as East Asian representatives of the Mongoloid race. Interestingly, their numbers are large not only in South and North Korea, but also in the United States. There are now about the same number of Koreans living in Los Angeles as there are in Seoul.

Appearance

A distinct feature of Korean faces is square cheekbones, small noses, and eyes, on the contrary, seem quite large. South Koreans differ from North Koreans in their softer features. This is connected not only with ethnogenesis, because the standard of living in South Korea or the United States is incomparably higher. Plastic surgery is popular in South Korea; girls and boys often resort to the services of cosmetologists, so they look well-groomed and pretty.
Most Koreans are short and love stylish and sometimes quirky hairstyles. A characteristic feature of the entire nation is a predisposition to wearing unusual clothes. It’s not for nothing that Koreans are called the most stylish Asians on the planet - walking through the center of Seoul, you will feel like you’re at a fashion show.

Story

The history of the Land of Morning Freshness begins in the Joseon era. Scientists believe that the ancient ancestors of modern Koreans lived during the Paleolithic. The main activities of ancient Koreans were hunting and fishing.
The era of ancient Joseon began around the 4th century BC. Many Koreans believe that the country's history began in 2333 BC, which is associated with the mythical ruler Tangun, the founder of Joseon. This word literally means morning freshness, hence the popular poetic name of Korea.
Joseon remained an independent state until 109 BC. Afterwards it was conquered by the Chinese Emperor Wu Di, a representative of the Han Dynasty. However, the Chinese could not control the country, since the population rebelled throughout its territory.
In the first millennium, the development of three states began, which marked the beginning of the era of the three kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla). Goguryeo, a state that occupied large territories in the northern part of the peninsula, reached its greatest power. Its possessions extended to Manchuria. The state was forced to fight with the Chinese dynasties. Some battles ended successfully, which made it possible to annex new territories. The three Korean kingdoms themselves also regularly clashed with each other, although they were united by a common religion - Buddhism.
The Silla state begins its existence in the 6th century and quickly comes to an alliance with the Tang Empire. The power of Silla and Tang turned out to be too great for Goguryeo and the state of Baekje, so both of them lost, surrendering their possessions to the Chinese empire.
However, in the 7th century, an ongoing struggle for freedom began, with Silla supporting it. As a result, the dances declared war on their former allies. Later, a country called Bohai appeared in Silla territory.
In the 8th century this state reached its peak. Agriculture, various kinds of crafts, science and writing actively developed. In the 9th century, uprisings became more frequent, which led to the beginning of the Time of Troubles.
In 918, the military leader Wang Gon came to power. He came from a merchant family and initially had great ambitions for the future. Having become ruler, Wang Gon proclaimed a new state - Koryo. In European sources it was written as "Korea".
Wang Gon will become famous for his cunning and strategic thinking. He managed to enter into alliances with influential feudal lords, which contributed to the unification of lands and the expansion of the state. Under Van Gon, a system of administrative division developed. A noble class emerged, which included officials who governed peasants and owned slaves. Thanks to its developed defense and army, Goryeo was able to repel attacks from neighboring tribes, who created a country called Liao.
The war with its neighbors gradually depleted Goryeo, so it was necessary to establish diplomacy with the Liao. The situation was aggravated by regular Jurchen invasions from the north. The decline of Goryeo began in the 13th century, and as a result of the formation of the Mongol hordes, Goryeo began to weaken significantly. In 1259, the state was forced to sign a peace treaty with the Mongols, but the Koreans did not accept defeat and began to prepare for mass uprisings, which reached their peak in the 14th century, as a result of which the Mongols began to retreat.
The end of Goryeo came with the disappearance of the last monarch, who was killed by General Yi Seong-gye (1392). From this moment the reign of the Li dynasty began, which lasted more than 5 centuries.

The state regained its original name Joseon and its capital Seoul (then Hanyang). The ideology of the ruling elite was based on neo-Confucianism. The new Joseon flourished in the 15th and 16th centuries. Peace reigned in the country, there were no raids from foreigners, which contributed to the development of encouragement from the monarchs and contributed to the rise in the level of art, medicine, science and agriculture. Ruler Sen Jong Lee ordered the beginning of a chronicle and a description of the geographical location of Korea. During these years, a clear hierarchy system was formed in the country.
The next stage of Korean history was turbulent. Yongsan came to power, who did not allow the development of science and became known as a champion. The prince loved hunting, was likened to passions, and for the sake of his own interests was ready to destroy entire settlements. Thus, many houses were destroyed in the suburbs of Seoul to clear hunting grounds.
All this prompted peasant uprisings, the largest of which was the revolt of 1467. Even with constant suppression, people resisted and continued to fight against their own state.
Historians consider the Japanese invasion to be the most difficult period for Korea. The capture of Busan and Seoul, further battles that weakened the army, led to the defeat of Korea and its capture by the Japanese. The Japanese invaders prohibited Koreans from speaking their native language, took away their land, and did not allow them to develop their economy.
In 1919, liberation movements inspired by the Russian October Revolution launched a wave of riots against the Japanese. In 1945, Japanese troops were defeated, which contributed to the liberation of the Korean people. However, the influence of the Soviet Union later led to the division of the country into North and South Korea. Now, a peace agreement has been reached between the countries, which officially ends the Cold War, which lasted almost a hundred years. Peace was officially concluded in 2018.

Character

In the post-war years, South Korea was in decline. Hard work and the emergence of economic freedoms helped it flourish. Entrepreneurs began to actively develop in the 90s of the last century, and now South Korea is one of the most developed countries in the world.
The entire Korean people are characterized by hard work and a passionate desire to work. Various US universities have conducted studies that have proven the ability to work tirelessly for 10 or even 12 hours every day.
Confucianism had a significant influence on the character of Koreans. His spirit can be felt in almost every Korean enterprise, where management strives to build collectivization into a cult. For Koreans, work is a second home. Therefore, members of the management team are perceived by employees as parents: their authority is undeniable, they need to bow from the waist up, like older relatives, always be smiling and not show dissatisfaction. If an employee is called to work overtime, he must agree. In exchange, a person receives social protection, benefits and insurance - this is very important, because South Korea does not have an established insurance system. Layoffs happen extremely rarely, which gives every person confidence in the future. He can be transferred to another position, to another company, but no one will fire him.
Promotion in Korean companies takes into account the merits of the employee. Experience, which is considered the main factor in promotion, must be taken into account. This fact clearly shows Confucian ethics, according to which the elder should receive benefits first, and the young should be inspired by a similar example.
Koreans often follow in their parents' footsteps. If they worked in medicine, then the son will become a doctor or medical engineer. The daughter will go to work in the company where the mother has worked for the past 10 years. This continuity is explained quite simply, because if the child’s parents felt good in one place, then the child will be comfortable.
It is not customary for Koreans to quarrel, since open conflicts are condemned in society. Even within a family, only older people can afford to swear.

The concept of statehood is important for every Korean. From bitter experience, the people know that a weak state promises famine, strife and civil strife, raids by warlike neighbors and decline. For a long time, private property was perceived as something incomprehensible, while state property, on the contrary, has long been held in high esteem.

Life

In recent years, Western influence has somewhat changed the approach to life. The building of businesses, the spread of Catholic churches, and the popularization of fast food chains all clearly indicate significant changes in Korean society. However, government bodies still have the right to interfere in a person’s private life, although efforts are being made to abolish their powers and reform the very work of the state apparatus. Until recently, a person could receive a sentence of up to 2 years for treason. In the 70s, the police actively fought against miniskirts, catching girls and measuring the length of this item of clothing with a tape measure.
Recent decades for Koreans have been characterized by a clear change in morals. If previously young people were obliged to ask their parents for approval before getting married, now more and more often girls and boys leave this decision entirely to themselves. However, even now relatives tend to take the initiative, selecting the most suitable candidates for their children.
In Korean society, love marriages were very rare. Only in legends could one hear about lovers going against the whole world. In reality, marriage was needed to strengthen the influence of some families over others. And love should come after marriage.

Previously, Koreans chose their environment based on their ancestry. Man chose friends and partners based on their origin. In some cases, this approach has been preserved, although it is gradually fading away.
The divorce rate for Koreans is very low, because family is the highest good. Relatives are always ready to help children and grandchildren. The concept of clanism has been preserved for Koreans living in the Far East of the Russian Federation. One clan can number 200 people, and everyone must gather during the holiday, so women have to cook a lot. Each member of the clan (even the youngest) bears a great responsibility, but this person can always be sure that they will be helped in any difficult moment.
Every Korean honors his parents. Their character includes boundless love for their father and mother. The eldest son usually always lived with his parents, although now this rule is not always observed. Children help each relative if necessary. Therefore, the older generation is not too worried about old age, because even if problems arise in the state with pension provision, children will always help.

Men and women

The Korean man has always been perceived in society as a breadwinner. This attitude continues today. Careerism is rare among women.
Korean women of the older generation can adhere to fairly strict principles, but younger ones often ignore them. Interesting fact: most decisions in modern Korean families are made by the wife, but the father is the main one in raising children. Wives manage finances, distribute money for general expenses and private ones.

As a result, we can draw 3 main conclusions regarding the modern life of Koreans:

1. Traditional education, which professed Confucianism and Taoism, is gradually losing importance.
2. The influence of the West can be seen more and more, which affects behavior and taste preferences.
3. Conservatism, in the opinion of modern youth, seems archaic. Young people try to communicate with representatives of other cultures and peoples. Recently, interethnic marriages have become more common.

Culture

In the traditions of the Korean people, much has been preserved since the time of the Koryo state.

• The many types of dances associated with classes clearly illustrate the peculiarities of the life of Koreans. The dances were mainly performed by villagers or jesters at the king's court. Nowadays, in a number of choreographic schools, the art of dance is taught as a serious discipline. The most popular is the dance of the fluttering butterfly - pakchommu;
• Painting in Korea gained unprecedented popularity during the Joseon era. Drawings on silk, written with ink and vegetable paints, have survived to this day. Artists depicted nature and its inhabitants, and ordinary people depicted problems of everyday life;
• Koreans pay special attention to gardens. The traditional version of the Korean garden was formed more than 2000 years ago. Its main elements are streams, ponds, rocks and waterfalls, trimmed trees and beautiful pagodas;
• The national costume of Korea is called hanbok. The main elements in it are a blouse, a skirt in the female version, and paja in the male version. The women's national costume has a pinkish tint and expands towards the floor, forming something like a dome. The men's one has a shorter look, from under it you can see the man's wide pants and shoes. Some Koreans wear hanbok every day. This everyday option is made from durable cotton.

Traditions

The Korean people have preserved many traditions. A wedding in Korea is a unique phenomenon. It differs from the European one - the event takes place in a ritual hall. Occasionally, the celebration may be moved to a restaurant or conference room. The bride and groom must wait in separate rooms for the ceremony to begin. Guests can take a photo as a souvenir. Wedding dresses represent suits and dresses familiar to Europeans; in some cases, traditional hanbok is used.

Wedding dances are performed to the music of Wagner. The father must accompany his daughter on the way to the altar, and the ceremony itself is performed by a close relative of the groom. A child's first birthday plays a significant role in Korean society. The holiday is called toljanchhi and people prepare for the important event in advance. On an important day, many guests come and gather in the yard and wait for the baby to appear. Each guest brings a gift and personally congratulates the parents. The child is dressed in a hanbok, and objects symbolizing good luck, prosperity, success, etc. are placed around. The baby himself must take the object he likes in his hand, which determines his future fate.

Holidays

In Korea, Seollal is celebrated - an analogue of the European New Year. The day of celebration is celebrated according to the Lunar calendar. For three days, Koreans dress up in traditional clothes, visit relatives and walk along the seashore to watch the sunrise. In Seollal, it is customary to remember deceased ancestors, prepare special dishes and congratulate parents by bowing deeply.

The Chuseok holiday is considered significant, during which it is customary to honor ancestors and harvest the harvest. Harvest refers to products: they are used to prepare dishes that decorate the table. On Chuseok, Koreans gather with guests, remember their ancestors and bring gifts to the cemetery. On the holiday, it is customary to treat brownies and thank the spirits for the harvest. A special feature of the festival is mass kite flying.
On August 15, the country celebrates Liberation Day. Officials and public figures take part in the celebration. Mass amnesties of prisoners are often held on August 15th.
The richness of the Korean people's culture is truly amazing. Dating back to ancient times, Korean culture has undergone significant changes in the modern world. However, once you have visited Korea, you will understand that its people have not lost their cultural values ​​and continue to honor the memory of their ancestors.

The population of South Korea is more than 51 million people, of which the vast majority are Koreans. Only the Chinese minority became a noticeable inclusion in the ethnic picture of Korea - according to the latest data, about 35 thousand people. This situation, unique for the modern world, in which the ethnic group is equal to the state, has developed due to the special idea of ​​the Koreans about the world: in it, the main thing for them is not citizenship, not the territory of residence, but belonging to their people.

However, there are prerequisites that the homogeneity of the population will soon be disrupted: Koreans are increasingly marrying foreigners, mainly Chinese, Vietnamese, and women from the Philippines. However, Europeans are unlikely to be able to distinguish between Koreans and Vietnamese, so for many years to come, tourists and guests of South Korea will see its residents as surprisingly similar to each other, as if the entire state is a big family.

Peoples inhabiting South Korea

Koreans

Until recently, scientists could not answer the question of how and when the Koreans appeared. Only modern genetics and DNA research have solved the mystery: the Korean people come from the eastern environs of the Sayan Mountains and Lake Baikal.

Today, Koreans speak their own language, their self-name is “hunguk saram”. A characteristic feature of Koreans is hard work: work for them is more than a way to earn a living; the work team and the company are an extension of the family, often its most important part.

Korean hospitality is very reminiscent of Russian and Chinese: for them it is important to feed the guest, so the first question you will hear in a Korean home or when meeting is: “Are you hungry?” Another feature similar to us is high alcohol consumption, more than 9 liters per year for each person.

The ethnic characteristic of Koreans is that they are good at singing, but poor at dancing. Scientists have not yet figured out what the reason is. An important national trait is a penchant for learning: more than 93% of school students graduate from universities, which gives them good chances for a career and a prosperous life. In the world, South Korea ranks 2nd in terms of the number of people who read regularly.

The most important Korean tradition is politeness. They say “thank you” and “hello” to everyone - the seller, the courier, the janitor, the cleaning lady, etc. Koreans are very respectful towards their elders, even if the difference is 1 year. Therefore, at the first meeting, they immediately find out how old you are and whether you are married. Marital status for a Korean is also a sign of maturity: an unmarried man until a very old age will be considered a youth and... a little “out of his mind.”

Chinese

“Huaqiao” is the name given to the Korean Chinese. Most of them are citizens of Taiwan, but they live permanently, for many generations, in South Korea. They even came up with a special term for them - “permanent foreigners.” The Chinese appeared in South Korea in the 40s of the twentieth century, during the Chinese Civil War. Many years have passed, but they do not become South Korean citizens due to government policies. They are not allowed to serve in the army or hold government positions; they experience great difficulty in finding employment in large companies. The primary activity of the Korean Chinese is trade.

Life of Koreans

90% of Koreans are middle class. The country ranks 13th in terms of living standards in the world ranking: there is no clear division between rich and poor, the vast majority of people live prosperously.

More than 80% of city residents live in “apatas” - houses of the same type - comfortable high-rise buildings with 20 - 30 floors. There is a free parking lot under the house, and nearby there are playgrounds and sports grounds, where the most common games are chokku (Korean football) and badminton. Each microdistrict has a tennis court and often a swimming pool.

Inside the houses there are always working elevators, in which a small bench is installed under the panel: for children. Children, even in large cities, often walk alone, because the level of danger in the country is extremely low: something like this was the case in the best years of the USSR.

Houses often don’t have number “4”—no fourth floor, no fourth apartments—because “4” is an unlucky number for Koreans. But there are video cameras everywhere and in large numbers. There are so many of them that you can safely leave bags, exercise equipment and anything else in the courtyard of your house, in the entrance: it is unlikely that anyone will encroach on someone else’s property. And the reason for this is not only cameras, but traditions and upbringing.

In each apartment, a special device is installed in the kitchen ceiling to notify residents about important events and activities. It is impossible to turn it off. Next to the “sounder” is a fire safety device, which is mandatory for all premises in Korea.

The apartment begins with a tiny hallway, where it is customary to leave shoes and hats. The floor level in the hallway is 7 - 10 cm lower than the floor level in other rooms, so that less dirt and dust enters the rooms.

The kitchen is usually not separated from the main apartment in any way and is a standard kitchen set with cabinets, a sink, an extractor hood, a stove, a washing machine, etc. All this is a normal component of an apartment that is rented out by a developer, and therefore is the same for everyone. The most commonly purchased refrigerators are a standard one and a refrigerator for kimchi - Korean “bread” made from vegetables (Chinese cabbage, radish, onions, cucumbers, etc. Kimchi is called “bread” because Koreans eat it at every meal.

A typical Korean apartment has a bedroom - a small room where there is often not even room for a bed: most Koreans sleep on the floor. When they wake up, they carefully fold the blanket and bedding into a corner. All this is possible thanks to the “ondol” system - a heated floor.

“Ondol” is a modernized thousand-year-old tradition of heating a house through the floor, an analogue of the Russian stove with a stove bench, in which the floor is the “bed”. In ancient times, for its construction, chimneys were diverted from the stove under the floor, but today the smoke is replaced with ordinary water or electricity. There are 5 heating levels, the owners themselves choose what temperature they require.

Warm floors have largely determined the life of Koreans. They sleep on the floor, sit on the floor - have lunch, work, relax. The same thing happens in Korean restaurants, where diners take off their shoes in the “hallway” and sit on the floor at low tables.

Korean family

Traditionally, in a Korean family, the man is the breadwinner (earns money), the woman is the housewife and teacher of the children. Before marriage, young people do not live together - this is not encouraged, and they get married on average at 27 - 30 years old.

Korean families are very active. There you don’t have to cook, wash, or clean the house yourself: catering, dry cleaning, and cleaning companies are very accessible. That’s why families often spend weekends and hours after work going to parks, going to the movies, theaters, and going on short trips.

Traditions and customs

One of the most ancient traditions of South Korea is the celebration of the Lunar New Year - Seolyal. The weekend lasts three days and people dress up in hanbok, a traditional costume. For women, it consists of a jegori blouse, a chhima skirt, and a jacket. For men - from jeogori and paji pants. On holidays, Koreans go to their relatives, to the seashore, and congratulate each other.

Chuseok is another ancient holiday that also requires 3 days of rest. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month and is called the festival of the harvest and remembrance of ancestors. On this day, Koreans go to cemeteries, decorate their homes and yards with cereals, fly kites, and organize festivals of the national dance Kankansulle. Koreans bring fruits of the new harvest, traditional and simply delicious dishes to the cemetery. If the cemetery was nearby, it was customary for the table to be set at home, and the woman to carry it on her head to the grave.

A special date in the life of a Korean is considered to be the celebration of the first birthday - tol-chanchi. Many guests gather with gifts, a special ritual is performed, which should determine the fate of the one-year-old baby. For girls, the holiday begins in the morning so that they get married quickly, for boys - from about 12 o'clock, so that they do not get married early.

This holiday is part of the “four tables” tradition. The first two parents arrange for the child are the first birthday and the wedding. The second two children give their parents a 60th birthday and a funeral, a wake. In ancient times, the absence of one table canceled all subsequent ones.

There are few public holidays in South Korea, these are:

• Independence Day (March 1st),
• Constitution Day (July 17),
• Liberation Day (August 15),
• Founding Day of the country (October 3),
• Day of Hangeul - the national alphabet (October 9).

Koryo saram is the name given to the descendants of Koreans who moved to Russia. The first part of the phrase refers to the ancient name of the state where they come from, the second is translated as “man”. More than a century and a half ago, Koreans became part of our country, enriching the motley palette of cultures.

Those who fled their homeland

According to the results of the 2010 All-Russian Census, more than 153 thousand people called themselves Koreans. The largest groups of Russian Koreans live in the Far East - in the Sakhalin region, Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories, in the South and North Caucasus - in the Rostov region, Stavropol region, Kabardino-Balkaria and Krasnodar region, as well as in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Representatives of this ethnic group have moved more than once. The fate of immigrants from North Korea is connected with the Far East, and South Korea with Sakhalin.

They appeared here in the second half of the 19th century. Emigration, which threatened death in the homeland, was pushed by hunger, lack of land and natural disasters. In 1860, as a result of the Beijing Treaty, part of the territory of Southern Primorye was ceded to Russia. A Russian-Korean border was formed along the Tumangan (Tumannaya) River. Even then, more than five thousand Koreans who received Russian citizenship lived behind it.

The first information about immigrants appeared in 1854, when 67 Korean peasants who crossed Tumangan asked the authorities for permission to live. They founded the first non-military settlement of Tizinhe in the Ussuri region, lived in traditional fanzes (a peasant house on a frame made of wooden piles) and were engaged in agriculture. By 1867, there were already three Korean villages with two thousand settlers in Primorye.

Diligent farmers

The Posyetsky (now Khasansky) region of Primorye quickly became the center of attraction for Koreans. The Russian authorities did not interfere with the resettlement. No one wanted to develop the empty lands, but the new residents had the necessary experience and desire to do this.

Koreans played a key role in the development of agriculture in the Far East. They willingly accepted Russian citizenship (which made it easier to obtain land), tried to learn the language and were baptized. On their initiative, the first Orthodox church appeared at the junction of three states - Russia, China and Korea. Thanks to integration, the ethnic group, the only Asian one, was able to organically fit into the life of the Far East.

The flow of immigrants increased in 1910 after the annexation of Korea by Japan: Russia was replenished with political emigrants. In a few years, the Far East will become the center of Korean culture: a third of the population of Primorye will be Koreans.

Koreans of Sakhalin

The Koreans were mentioned by A.P., who visited the island at the end of the 19th century. Chekhov. According to the 1897 census, 67 Asians lived on Sakhalin.

Korean settlements began to grow after the Russo-Japanese War, as a result of which Japan received the southern part of the island - Karafuto. Koreans from the southern provinces were actively brought here for hard work in mines and fishing. Thus, by 1945, when Southern Sakhalin became part of the USSR, fifty thousand Koreans lived here. Japan happily forgot about its former “slaves,” but according to documents, Sakhalin Koreans were still considered citizens of the Land of the Rising Sun: they began to accept Soviet citizenship only after 1970.

Deported first

Koreans were the first in the USSR to undergo forced relocation on ethnic grounds. Since the 1920s, measures have been developed to resettle them from the borders of occupied Korea. In 1929, they managed to gather 220 volunteers who organized rice-growing collective farms in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The idea of ​​moving to these republics would later become key.

On August 21, 1937, by resolution of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, in order to suppress Japanese espionage, it was decided to deport Far Eastern Koreans to Central Asia. 172 thousand people went to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, including 1,187 residents of Northern Sakhalin. On the way and during the first time of living in areas of unusual climate, up to 40 people out of a thousand died. Some historians believe that the Koreans were better off than other repressed peoples, although they were also discriminated against. In 1945, they were given the status of special settlers; during the war with Japan they were sent to forced labor in the “labor army”.

The rehabilitation of the people took place in several stages. However, some unspoken prohibitions existed before the collapse of the USSR. In 1993, the Russian Supreme Council recognized Koreans as victims of political repression. By that time, about half a million representatives of this people lived in the post-Soviet space.

Third wave of adaptation

Koreans have integrated well into Russian society. Many primordial traditions, in the process of sociocultural adaptation, acquired a new meaning; the Korean language was forgotten or completely forgotten: for example, the generation that grew up in Central Asia considers Russian to be their native language. In the 1950s, restrictions on movement and military service were lifted, and Koreans were allowed to live outside Central Asia. They began to move to the North Caucasus and the countries of the Union. Young people actively went to study, including in the capital’s universities. And by the seventies, there were many scientists, engineers, doctors and lawyers among the Koreans. At the same time, Korean rice collective farms continued to flourish. Koreans began returning to Primorye in the 1960s. After the collapse of the USSR, many Koreans from the Central Asian republics moved to Russia and Ukraine.

Borsch with pabi and pilaf

Among Koreans, common surnames are Kim, Pak, Lee, Choi, Choi, Tsoi. Recently, families have become small. They adhere to a complex system of beliefs and rituals based on traditional Korean views on nature, elements of Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity. There are many Orthodox Christians among them.

Traditional cuisine has changed a lot over the years of living in Russia: dishes have appeared that have no analogues in Korea. For example, carrots, which Russians love, are Korean-style carrots. The salad appeared during Soviet times as a replacement for kimchi, a traditional dish of Chinese cabbage with red pepper. Koreans prefer fish and pork. Almost no animal fat is used. They love hot peppers, garlic and coriander. They prepare some dishes of Russian cuisine in their own way. For example, boiled pabi rice is added to borscht. The diet of Russian Koreans now also includes Uzbek cuisine: pilaf and manti.

Ekaterina Kurzeneva

A little about Koreans

Where did Koreans come from?

To the question “who are Koreans?” many will answer “they are Asians, and they live on the Korean Peninsula, in two countries - North and South Korea.” And someone might even call them Chinese or Mongols. There are many options, because until now scientists and historians have not come to a common conclusion, continuing to put forward various hypotheses about the origin of the Koreans.

There is a version that for about six thousand years, Paleo-Asian tribes living in northern Siberia settled in Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula, where they met with the Maek tribes who settled there, resulting in the formation of the Korean people.

Someone says that the Altai peoples reached from the foot of the Altai Mountains to Manchuria, the Korean Peninsula and Japan, where they had to resist the Chinese Yihan, so the tribes united over time, forming the peoples of Koreans, Mongols, Turks, etc.

There is an opinion that the primitive Tungus are Koreans, formed as a result of the merger of three tribes: Phan Ung who arrived from Central Asia, Buyo who came from the steppes and Saki from Turkey. These three tribes came to northern China, where they mixed with local peoples, and then settled on the Korean Peninsula.

But DNA studies show that the Korean people originate from the eastern part of the Sayan Mountains and the environs of Lake Baikal. But one thing is certain - according to the anthropological type, Koreans belong to the East Asian branch of the Mongoloid race. Modern Koreans speak Korean and call themselves “Choson saram” in North Korea, and “Hanguk saram” in South Korea. Koreans live not only on the Korean Peninsula; there are quite a lot of them in China, the USA and Japan. Russia ranks eighth among these countries with a Korean population of 180 thousand people. The very ethnic name of Russian Koreans is “Koryo saram”.

Koreans. Interesting Facts

• Korean-style carrots are a dish invented by Russian Koreans and have nothing to do with traditional Korean cuisine;
• The first thing a Korean will ask you after greeting is “Are you hungry?” Food is a very important thing in the Korean mentality;
• Koreans are very hardworking, losing a job means the end of everything sacred in life;
• Lack of sleep is an indicator of performance. For example, a student defending his thesis should look green and half-dead, otherwise he may be reproached for not being diligent enough;
• For men, in line with a small face, a wasp waist and expressive lips, the ideal of female beauty fits... big ears;
• Until 1994, a couple with the same last name could not enter into an official marriage - the registry was stamped “relatives” and the married couple did not have the opportunity to register their children;
• In Korea, they try to avoid the number 4 because it sounds like the word “death.” Therefore, in buildings, often after the third floor there is a fifth, or the four is replaced by the letter F;
• Koreans drink a lot of alcohol. The average annual amount of alcohol per capita is 9.1 liters;
• About 90% of Koreans are myopic, and they prefer glasses to lenses, as this is considered an indicator of a good mind;
• Baseball is the most popular sport in Korea;
• Plastic surgery is an important part of the life of almost every woman (and men too);
• Many Koreans sing well but dance poorly. This is why they are so excited about Hallyu artists;
• You cannot write the name of a living person in red ink - this will bring death to him. The thing is that previously the name of the deceased was written in red letters on the tombstone;
• 93% of South Korean students graduate from university;
• South Korea ranks second in the world in terms of the number of people who read;
• South Korea's literacy rate is 99%;
• Neither North nor South Korea perceives each other as an independent country. That is, South Korea automatically grants citizenship to a resident of the North, just as North Korea automatically grants citizenship to a resident of the South;
• Every fifth Korean has the surname Kim, the eighth has Lee, the tenth has Park;
• Koreans do not call the Sea of ​​Japan as such, but call it the East Sea. This is due to long-standing conflicts between states.