19세기 후반 함경도 주민들의 연해주 이주와 仁政 願望

Abstract

The majority of the Joseon people who migrated to Russia before Korea established diplomatic relationship with Russia in 1884 were poor farmers. The policy of the Joseon government prior to the mid-1870s was that of severely punish anyone who was caught violating this border. Nevertheless, there were widespread rumors amongst residents along the northern border with Russia of the munificent nature of Russian emperors. To this end, these Russian emperors were depicted as the saviors of all unfortunates, and as the rescuers of all those who suffered under the despotic rule of tyrannical and greedy rulers. Such rumors resulted in a steady exodus of Joseon residents to Russia. This type of action and perception of Russia naturally ran contrary to the Joseon government's policy at the time. In addition, such perceptions of Russia were also radically divergent from those possessed by the conservative faction, who boasted a Sino-centric world-view, and by government officials, who had rigidly prohibited border transgressions as part of their despotic efforts to enforce strict control over residents. Furthermore, the view of Russia possessed by residents of the northern border areas also differed from that of the enlightenment faction, which was focused on the theory of civilization and enlightenment, and the great feats carried out by Western powers such as England, Japan, and Qing in pursuit of their own interests. These independent perceptions of Russia were rooted in the sense of urgency that animated residents' everyday lives. They were also the result of their hope and desire for the kind of benevolent rule that had long disappeared from Joseon. As such, the residents in the northern border area began to idealize Russia and to perceive the Russian emperor as the savior who would deliver them from their misery. Based on these perceptions, many residents in the northern border area moved over the boundary they had been forbidden to cross by the Joseon government, and established a new living space for themselves in Russia. Officially registered as Russian citizens, these immigrants from Joseon exhibited a transnational identity in that they also regarded themselves as people of Joseon. While they conducted their production activities in the area that served as their primary residence, Russia, these migrants from Joseon also regularly crossed over the border to continue human and material exchanges with the residents of Hamgyeong Province. However, the future of these immigrants who had created a transnational independent living space did not unfold as they had expected. Their hopes for benevolent rule were once again betrayed as their independent space was destroyed by the Russian central authorities. In 1937, these immigrants were forcibly relocated to Central Asia against their will. This action can be regarded as a betrayal of the dreams of these Joseon immigrants who had left their homeland in search of a utopia in which benevolent rule prevailed. In the end, their transnational independent living space and lifestyle were completely destroyed.