1930~40년대 중국 화북지역 한인사회와 귀환 -河北省·內蒙古·山西省 지역을 중심으로-

Abstract

With an invasion force from Japanese imperialism of Huabei region, many Koreans advanced into various parts of Huabei region. Before the Sino-Japanese War, the largest Korean population resided in the whole area of Tangsan and Ch’inhuangtao, Hebei Province because they could be under the wing of Japanese imperialism and there was a Beining railroad nearby. Anti-Japanese sentiments in other areas of Huabei region was so strong that it was difficult for Koreans to settle down there. When the Sino-Japanese War broke out, hosts of Koreans advanced into the remote areas along a railroad in Huabei region following the Japanese military. Particularly, there were many Koreans who advanced into the areas near the front lines like Shihchiachuang, Xinxiang, Taiyuan, Linfen because they could get a considerable profit due to instability of public order on the war front. Most of them were engaged in the reception business like an eating house, a cafe,a hotel and others for Japanese, and women worked as a professional beauty and entertainer, a hostess, a waitress. As the political situation stabilized in 1938, the numbers of the Korean people increased and their occupations were diversified, however, most of them were engaged in the business which was connected with the Japanese people. Therefore the economy of the Korean communities in Huabei region had a disposition to collaborate with Japanese imperialism. Many of them were salaried men working for the companies or banks as a clerk. In addition,there were many self-employed business Koreans who owned a small business like a restaurant, an eating house, a laundry and others, and not a few Koreans worked in a coal mine and on a farm. But there also were many cases that Koreans lost economic competition against Japanese and Chinese and degenerated into unlawful dealers like a drug dealer. Especially noticeable was that there were many Korean hostesses in Huabei region. They were called special women and most of them were comfort women for Japanese soldiers. The restaurants where they worked were not only the general restaurants but also the facilities for the comfort of Japanese soldiers. Koreans from various places formed overseas Korean organizations for their friendship and cooperated with Japanese imperialism. Such organizations had a strong disposition to collaborate with Japanese imperialism as well as were for friendship between overseas Koreans. There were many Koreans who actively participated in a Japanese aggressive war like the Great Japanese Volunteer Army in Linfen. As the Chinese people thought that the Koreans acted as agents for Japanese because of their drug trade and collaboration with Japanese imperialism, the relations between the two races (Korean and Chinese) were aggravated. Just before the fall of the Japanese Empire, many Koreans were enrolled into the Joseon Volunteer Army freeing themselves from Japanese forces according to propaganda of the Independence Alliance which had operations in Huabei region, and some Koreans who anticipated the fall of Japanese imperialism returned home before Korea’s liberation. When Japanese imperialism collapsed, not a few Koreans returned home via the northeastern area by an overland route. Koreans in every place formed overseas Korean organizations by themselves to protect their life and property. The Korean government-in-exile formed Huabei organization for pacification work and set up its branches like Seokmoon branch, Taiyuan branch, Daedong branch and others, and took over and conducted the work related to local Koreans,At the end of 1945, the National government formulated a plan to repatriate Koreans in China by the 30th of April, 1946 according to a policy of American military administration in Korea. Consequently, Koreans in every place gathered in big cities in China, and then they came home to Korea via Danggo port in Tienjin. But because of strong protests from local Koreans,the delegation in China and Huabei organization for pacification work, the compulsory call and repatriation was delayed. In the end, the National government improved its policy about Koreans in China and allowed them to reside in China. Therefore Koreans in every place applied to Huabei organization for pacification work for their permanent residence in China,and got a residence permit for foreigners. Koreans who were left in China formed an overseas Korean society and it took charge of the affairs like Koreans’ welfare, communication with Huabei organization for pacification work and Korean society in Beijing, and the negotiations with the authorities of China. As Kuokong neichan (war between Kuomintang and the communists in China) intensified in June, 1948, many Koreans wanted to return to Korea. But some Koreans like Koreans in Taiyun gave up their returning to Korea and settled down in China considering their living after their returning to Korea.