러시아 연해주에 이주한 고려인의 발자취와 한국기업의 비즈니스 전망과 도전

The prospect and challenge of Korea business in far east naritime Krai where Koreoin(Korea-Russian) have been living over 140 year

The history of the ‘Goryeo’ people began when some of our ancestors, who were under the Japanese occupation, moved across the Duman-gang river as stowaways to the maritime provinces of Siberia, Russia, 140 years ago. Currently more than 0.6 million Goryeo people are scattered throughout regions such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia, which are now all parts of the Russian Federation. Usually they refer to themselves as ‘Goryeo people’, and not as Koreans nor North Korean ‘Joseon people’. But they use the same language as we do, and appreciate the same cu1ture as we have. Their ancestors are our ancestors. There is no doubt that they are Koreans. The Goryeo people have endured so much pain and humiliation under the regime of Soviet Socialism for over 70 years. But when socialism lost its dominant status in Russia in 1990, Russia decided to adopt the marketplace economy system, and also accepted freedom and democracy. A diplomatic relationship between Korea and Russia was established as well, and in fact it has been 15 years to date. The Goryeo people hope that Korea and Russia further develop their relationship, pave way for many Korean companies to come to Russia, and let the Russian population have the opportunity to recognize and acknowledge the high quality of Korean goods. The Korean and Russian governments have been in talks for years over the issue of improving the status of the infrastructure sustaining the trans-Siberian railway and also modernizing the entire system. The issue should be and is also expected to be settled in the near furure. For the Russian customers to appreciate the Korean commodities, those goods should be delivered to them fast and efficiently. In that regard, instead of transportation via ships which would cost highly, less expensive transportation via trains are much more preferable. Eventually, Korean commodities would be able to attract the interests of not only the Russian customers, but also potential buyers located throughout the Eastern European markets. The efforts to keep peace in the Korean peninsula and to establish an economic community encompassing both the South and North Koreas could also benefit from the Koreans' productive relationship with Russia. Korean goods and Korean businessmen departing from Busan and Mokpo could directly reach the Russian market when the domestic KTX railway and the trans-Siberian railway are effectively connected with each other. This would bring a new era to the Northeast Asian region, an era of peace and stability, and cooperation.