재만조선인의 스포츠 활동

Abstract

This research explores the sports activities among Koreans residing in regions of Manchuria in the early 20th century. Special emphasis is placed on the vibrant Korean diasporic communities residing in Gando, Andong, and Bongcheon. While sports events in Gando were often imbued with residents’ anti-Japanese sentiments and primarily took place in private schools attended by Koreans, Andong’s unique geographic location along the Yalu River nurtured dynamic sports-based exchanges with Shinuiju, a venue that facilitated the interactions and participation of the local Japanese and Chinese communities. Alongside these regional competitions, Bongcheon eventually flourished as a central nexus for sports underpinned by the influential Bongcheon Korean Sports Association, an association that became renowned for organizing athletic meets that were synchronized with the Spring Festive. Its meets attracted substantially large audiences and served as a valuable center of sports for the Korean community. In a nuanced exploration, this study reveals the diversity and regional uniqueness of these sports events—ranging from their role as social conduits in Andong to the symbolic platforms of resistance against Japan in Gando—a discernible trend towards homogenization was evident in the sports landscape during the 1930s and 1940s. The results of the study provides a rich perspective on the intricate interplay between sports, politics, and ethnic identities within the Korean diaspora living in Manchuria during this period.