조선족에 대한 한국과 중국의 역사적 인식 비교

“Comparative Study on Historical Perception of Korean Chinese by Korea and China”

This study has investigated the significant differences in China’s and Korea’s perception of Korean Chinese. Although there is dispute within domestic academic circles, Korea sees the origins of Korean Chinese in the Gando settlers. Of course, within Korean academia there are those that deny the existence of aGando problem. Because China officially denies the existence of any problem over Gando ownership, China argues that Korean Chinese originated from cross-border immigrants. However as has been made clear, China’s Northeastern Project is proof that the Chinese government acknowledges existence of a dispute over Gando ownership and is preparing to defend their position. Note that due to Korea’s strong position on the dispute over the history of Goguryeo, China has shown hesitation on the Goguryeo issue. Inasmuch, the Chinese government has encouraged the Goguryeo issue to be resolved among academics of both countries. However, because Gando issue is a territorial problem of a highly sensitive nature, Chinese officials explain that the Chinese government has decided to deal with it officially. The problem of Korean Chinese is directly related to the Gando issue. In 1909 Japan and the Ch’ing Empire signed the Gando agreement paying no respect to the claims of the Korean people. By this agreement, Korean settlers of Gando and Gando itself became victims of Japanese imperial aggression and China’s Big Nation policy. As the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949 and Yan-bian Korean Ethnic Autonomous District established in 1955, Gando settlers inevitably became co-opted as Korean Chinese. Such history gives rise to today’s differences in perception and policy between the two countries over Korean Chinese. That is, while Korea sees Korean Chinese as Korean expatriates in China and is beginning to perceive them as subject to Korean law, China argues that Korean Chinese are an ethnic minority in China and citizens of the People’s Republic, and therefore tries to suppress disturbance and secession. This explains China’s “Three Perspectives Policy.” Furthermore, as Korea has been pushing for changes on the Korean peninsula since 1990, it may be interpreted that China has hurried to implement its Northeastern Project in preparation to control the Korean Chinese and deal with the Gando issue. Korean Chinese are closely tied to not only the Korea-China relations of the past and present, but of the future as well. As a unified Korea comes to border Gando, Gando itself and Korean Chinese become inevitably involved with the future of Korea. The boundary treaty signed by North Korea and China in 1962 should be reevaluated and judged by a unified Korea. As China grows in power, it is increasingly emphasizing the Chinese nation and is predicted to try to control ethnic minorities to a greater degree in the future. However, as a multiethnic China comes to grapple with the question of future stability or chaos, the issue of Korean Chinese and Gando is predicted to face change. As shown, the differences between Korea and China in the perception of Korean Chinese have persisted in the past and present, and are foreseen to continue for a while into the future. Theissue of Korean Chinese currently forms an axis of the dynamics between the two countries, and should do so in the future as well. Although differences in perception and understanding may exist between the two countries, Korea and China should work towards mutual understanding and cooperation to further the advancement of the Korean Chinese community.