Why do Diasporas Re-Emigrate to their Historical “Homelands”? A Case Study of Koryo Saram’s “Return” from Post-Soviet Uzbekistan to South Korea

抄録

The name Koryo Saram describes the Korean diaspora who are living in the former Soviet Union, and it is their self-identification. The Koryo Saram have been segregated into various subgroups, based on the policies and cultures of their countries of origin and residence from the Soviet era to the modern era. Simultaneously, the community has been forming transboundary networks expanding beyond their countries of origin and residence. This study focuses on the unprecedented increase in the number of Uzbekistani immigrants since 2007, when the Koryo Saram began returning to South Korea as compatriots. Exploring this case will make it possible to closely examine the dynamics of the minority communities in Central Asia. Moreover, by examining the factors accounting for diasporic return migration, empirical evidence concerning the globalized modern diaspora may be revealed. Therefore, this study investigates the return migration of diaspora minorities to their historical homeland focused on a case study of Koryo Saram migration from Uzbekistan to South Korea and identifies the steps necessary for their integration into the host society and fulfilling a multicultural coexistence. Furthermore, it presents novel findings of diaspora research and captures the social dynamism of the minority communities in Central Asia.