중국 조선족의 한국전쟁 참전 연구

Abstract

This is a research on the experiences of Korean minorities in China who fought in the Korean War. Though the Koreans in China played a significant role in the war, they were not given any proper attention from Korean or Chinese scholars. Citing the testimonies and recollections of Korean War veterans who are still alive in China, this study shows the participation of Korean minorities in the war, which is not clear in the printed materials on the subject. According to the veterans' testimonies, the Korean soldiers in China had lots of battle experiences before the Korean War since they had participated in the Chinese Civil war as a part of Chinese communist forces. They were moved to North Korea and reshuffled as the main force before the breakout of the Korean War. This finding reveals that China and North Korea had been cooperating militarily before the starting of the war and that North Korea had been systematically preparing for the war. But the Korean soldiers in China were moved to North Korea in secret. They testify that they did not know that they were entering North Korea. In North Korea they provided the human resources in constructing North Korean system and played an active role as the main force in attacking the South. During the war, they had difficulties due to the shortage of supplies and suffered from the biological warfare and formidable American air forces. The findings of this study need be complemented with follow-up studies and document researches.