This study examines the relationship between the lifestyles of naturalized Koreans in Russia after the Russo-Japanese War and those of domestic Koreans in terms of employment, housing, military service, and political activities. This paper defined the...
This study examines the relationship between the lifestyles of naturalized Koreans in Russia after the Russo-Japanese War and those of domestic Koreans in terms of employment, housing, military service, and political activities. This paper defined the naturalization of Koreans in Russia as compatible naturalization where Koreans maintained legal affiliation to Russia and ethnic affiliation to their homeland. Newly naturalized Koreans in Russia were interested in local politics that improved the living conditions of migrants in Russia and homeland politics that resisted the colonization of Korea.
After the Russo-Japanese War, some Koreans moved to Russia from the Korean peninsula against the background of the colonization of their homeland. They tried to establish stable employment and housing conditions through naturalization in Russia. Naturalization in Russia was a prerequisite for stable local settlement for Koreans living in Russia. At that time, Korean naturalization in Russia increased because of changes in Russia's policy toward Korea.
As the crackdown on residence permits became stricter, and the deportation of non-naturalized people expanded, Koreans had to naturalize to secure employment. At that time, Governor General Unterberger banned non-naturalized people from renting Russian state-owned land and working in mines. Gondatti, a successor of Unterberger, seemed to ease the restrictions on employment by encouraging Koreans to naturalize in Russia. Still, naturalization was a prerequisite for employment because only naturalized and prospective naturalized people were legally employable.
Koreans were granted rights as Russian citizens through naturalization and tried to establish conditions for stable residence. Koreans struggled to secure land to live in both urban and rural areas. Several tried to lease the site of Shinhanch'on for an extended period after the demolition of Kaech'ŏngni in Vladivostok and to pioneer farmland in the Laulyu area in an attempt to secure a residence through naturalization.
Naturalization was accompanied by an obligation. When World War I broke out, Koreans naturalized in Russia were subject to conscription. At this time, Koreans were agitated and showed two modes of behavior: rejection and acceptance. Those who refused to enlist left the Russian territory and sought new activities in a different country. Those who accepted saw discrimination and solidarity on the battlefield. Those who remained in the rear area of battlefields preserved their organizational power by enduring structural contradictions in the war to maintain their daily lives. Those who performed military service and participated in the war secured the possibility of raising their voices on the rights of migrants in the future.
Koreans became more politically active in Russia through naturalization. To obtain the right to enjoy being Russian citizens, local political Korean organizations were created inside the Korean community. Through these actions, Koreans negotiated with the Russian authorities to expand their rights to enjoy education and land. After the February Revolution, Koreans entered the center of politics in Russia and sought to expand their political influence.
In addition, Koreans tried to participate in political issues in Korea regarding colonial liberation based on the legal protection obtained through naturalization in Russia. Raising arms and pens by spreading anti-Japanese sentiment among the public through homeland politics strained Japan outside the border and caused discussions on deportation as Russian authorities cracked down on Koreans in the interests of bilateral diplomacy between Russia and Japan. At the same time, however, Russian authorities' implied favor led to the inner immigration of Koreans in Russia. Furthermore, following the expansion of political rights after the February Revolution, Koreans were outspoken about the liberation of Korea and secured political territory by balancing local and homeland politics.