How a displaced Korean diaspora forged a unique identity across the Soviet Union

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Koryo-saram are ethnic Koreans who migrated to the Russian Far East in the 19th century, only to be forcibly deported to Central Asia in 1937. Today, this resilient community maintains a distinct culture, blending Korean heritage with Russian naming traditions and a unique, localized cuisine.

The Koryo-saram story began in the late 19th century as peasants fled the declining Joseon dynasty and Japanese colonization. By 1869, Koreans made up 20% of the Primorsky Krai population. However, geopolitical tensions with Japan led to the 1937 forced deportation of over 171,000 Koreans to Central Asia. Despite the loss of their original farmlands and the death of an estimated 40,000 people during the transition, the community rapidly adapted, building irrigation systems and establishing new rice farms.

Over decades, the Koryo-saram developed a syncretic culture. While the Korean language faded—partly due to Soviet policies that restricted its instruction by 1939 and banned it entirely by 1945—the community retained Korean surnames and specific cultural rituals. Their cuisine evolved significantly, incorporating local ingredients to create dishes like morkovcha, a carrot-based kimchi variant now popular across the former Soviet Union. Naming practices also shifted, as they adopted Russian patronymics and Orthodox saint names while maintaining traditional Korean clan identities.

Today, the diaspora is scattered across Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and beyond. Many have faced challenges, including linguistic barriers in newly independent states and discrimination when returning to South Korea for work. Despite these pressures, the Koryo-saram remain a cohesive group, defined by their shared history of displacement and a persistent, evolving cultural identity that bridges the gap between the Korean peninsula and the vast geography of the former Soviet Union.

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