‘디아스포라 공간’개념의 재고찰과 부산 : 이동의 시작에 주목하여

Abstract

In this study, the concept of ‘diaspora space’ is critically reconsidered through a case of Busan, where had been the center of Korean Diaspora 's migration to Japan. Busan was the starting point of the Korean Diaspora’s migration to Japan and their settlement. In the background of this migration flow, Busan has become ‘diaspora space’ where diverse factors such as politics, economy, society, and culture converge, and the boundary between those who move and those who do not move, and nation and state have been dismantled, rearranged and confirmed. In the 1920s, Busan was an open and closed contradictory space for moving to the center of the empire. And in Busan, the Korean Diaspora once again confirmed the meaning of living as a Korean manual worker. In particular, the meaning of the travel authorization which was essential for crossing the Genkai Sea, became clearer in Busan. This system made the Korean manual workers to recognize the ethnic identity in comparison with Japanese, and the class identity in comparison with businessmen and students. In the latter half of the 1940s, Busan was a space where the Korean who returned to their homelands with the collapse of the empire attempted to 'cross the boundary' 'illegally' through 'stowaway' in extreme confusion and frustration. As the border of the nationstate had been reset violently irrespective of the individual 's life, 'stowaway' has been created. Busan was the center of this 'stowaway' as well as the diaspora space where the boundary between Chosun and Japan, Korea and Japan confronted and overcame. This study of Busan as the diaspora space where the migration of Korean diaspora started is meaningful as an example to understand the limitations of the existing research and to review the concept.