The integration of ethnic Koreans in Yanbian Prefecture (China), ca. 1890‒present

TY - CHAP

T1 - The integration of ethnic Koreans in Yanbian Prefecture (China), ca. 1890‒present

AU - van Leeuwen, Bas

AU - Li, Jieli

AU - Lucassen, Leo

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - In this chapter we look at five measures of ethnic Korean integration in Yanbian 延邊 prefecture (China) over the past century. First, we find that the number and socio-economic background of new migrants have varied little over time. Yet, partly due to Chinese policy, return migration was much higher at the end of the twentieth century than at the beginning. Second, even though ethnic mixing, e.g., through intermarriage increased, rates remained low. Third, throughout the twentieth century Koreans had on average higher levels of education than Han Chinese. Fourth, their occupational position converged with that of Han Chinese in the second half of the twentieth century. Fifth, we find that their position was strengthened by geo-politics, closeness to Korea, and the clustering of Koreans in Yanbian. Overall, the conclusion is that the long-term settlement process produced mixed results, with structural (socio-economic) integration being well advanced, whereas identificational integration was limited.

AB - In this chapter we look at five measures of ethnic Korean integration in Yanbian 延邊 prefecture (China) over the past century. First, we find that the number and socio-economic background of new migrants have varied little over time. Yet, partly due to Chinese policy, return migration was much higher at the end of the twentieth century than at the beginning. Second, even though ethnic mixing, e.g., through intermarriage increased, rates remained low. Third, throughout the twentieth century Koreans had on average higher levels of education than Han Chinese. Fourth, their occupational position converged with that of Han Chinese in the second half of the twentieth century. Fifth, we find that their position was strengthened by geo-politics, closeness to Korea, and the clustering of Koreans in Yanbian. Overall, the conclusion is that the long-term settlement process produced mixed results, with structural (socio-economic) integration being well advanced, whereas identificational integration was limited.

KW - China

KW - Yanbian

KW - migration

KW - Korea

M3 - Chapter

VL - 131

SP - 69

EP - 79

BT - Northeast Asia in Focus: Life, work and industry between the steppe and the metropoles, 1900-2020

PB - IN-EAST Institute of East Asian Studies

ER -