재일제주인의 선박 모빌리티 양상 ‒신문 기사, 소설, 구술을 중심으로‒

Abstract

Due to colonization and a unique historical context, Jeju Islanders residing in Japan established themselves in a new social space under strict regulation and control. Despite these conditions, they did not sever ties with their homeland but continued their social lives by frequently traveling between the two countries. By transcending borders, they integrated the two social spaces into a single social realm. They maintained fluid relationships by simultaneously participating in both social environments. Ship mobility facilitated the free cross-border movement of Jeju Islanders, enabling their survival and helping them overcome isolation. The patterns of ship mobility among Jeju Islanders in Japan, frequently mentioned in newspapers, novels, and oral histories, evolved through various circumstances and periods. At times, this mobility served political and ethnic purposes. Following Korea’s independence, it became subject to strict control and regulation. As legal and illegal immigration to Japan increased, indigenous residents problematized this mobility. Immigrants were differentiated and othered from the natives, leading to the solidification of imposed images. Ultimately, ship mobility was the crucial means by which these disparate outsiders entered the living spaces of the indigenous population, solidifying a mix of discrimination and fear towards immigrants. In the postwar period, the spatiotemporal context of ship mobility provides critical insights into the consequences of colonial rule for Jeju Islanders. From a Japanese Orientalist perspective, Jeju Islanders might appear as “voluntary slaves” who chose Japan out of individual preference. However, fundamentally, the choices available to them were inevitabe and limited by the structure of colonial domination. Under imperialist policies, the emigration of Jeju Islanders encompassed both necessity and violence. While essential within Japan, they were simultaneously viewed as internal outsiders to be excluded. And a duality of slavery and gold, civilization and barbarism existed on the ships traveling between Jeju and Osaka.