Koryoin from Ukraine find safe harbor in Korea

Descendants of Koreans living in Ukraine, part of the larger Koryoin population throughout Central Asia and former Soviet Union states, are finding refuge in Korea.

Anastasia, a Koryoin Ukrainian, with her husband Roman and her two daughters at the Koryoin Cultural Center in Incheon, Gyeonggi, Monday. Anastasia and her family arrived in Korea in March. [KIM KYUNG-ROK]

Descendants of Koreans living in Ukraine, part of the larger Koryoin population throughout Central Asia and former Soviet Union states, are finding refuge in Korea.

“Back in Ukraine, there were fighter jets flying low in front of our house,” says Koryoin Ukrainian Anastasia, 32, remembering the start of the war in February. “We could also hear bombs and missiles going off.”

When Anastasia and her husband decided they must flee, they told their daughters they were going on a trip abroad. It took 25 hours for them to reach the western border of Ukraine, normally a nine-hour trip. They met a volunteer in Poland who offered to take them in.

But that didn't work out. “The owner of the house where we stayed uploaded photos of our family on to social media, and I found out that he was doing drugs,” says Anastasia. “We decided to leave as quickly as possible.”

The only refuge Anastasia could think of was her grandfather’s country, Korea. Her mother and sister had settled in Korea a year earlier. “I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go but Korea,” says Anastasia. The family arrived in March.

“I am very fortunate and grateful to have Korea as my country,” says Anastasia.

Gratitude aside, Anastasia’s family has hurtles to overcome. Born and raised in Ukraine, Anastasia is not fluent in Korean. She took a part-time job assembling parts in an automobile factory to pay the rent and for daycare for her two daughters. “I want to settle down and live in Korea,” she says.

When asked what worries her the most, Anastasia says medical bills. “We can’t be sick because health insurance is not covered for us,” she said. “I worry about what we can do if one of us becomes ill.”

Anastasia’s husband Roman entered Korea on a special humanitarian permit for three months. He will have to return to Ukraine in June. As a Koryoin Ukrainian, Anastasia is eligible for a stay of two to three years and extensions are available. Anastasia says she's not sure what the future holds for her family and whether they'll be able to be together, especially since her husband will go back to fight in the war.

The number of Koryoins who entered Korea to escape the war in Ukraine reached 1,200 as of this month. Many live in areas with existing populations of Koryoins, such as Ansan, Gyeonggi and Incheon.

“Men are prohibited from leaving Ukraine due to conscription, so most of the refugees are young children, women and elderly people,” said Kim Young-sook, executive director of the Koryoin Cultural Center in Incheon.

“There are people who could not even bring clothes while escaping the war, so those who came to Korea do not have anything essential.”

The Community Chest of Korea, a non-governmental charity, is providing urgent living expenses, medical expenses, and daily necessities through the Emergency Support Project for Ukrainian Koryoins. Living expenses of up to 200,000 a month are provided, and emergency medical support.

The organization also offers psychological counseling to Koryoin refugees. Currently, 201 families and 612 people are receiving help.

Ukrainian Koryoins say they are grateful for such help. “I had a hard time stepping onto Korean soil with my youngest child, who is only 21 months old,” said Svietlana Park, a Ukrainian Koryoin who came to Korea with three children in March. “The fact that there are support programs for us in Korea is heartwarming. I am grateful to the Korean government and the support organizations.”

BY EO HWAN-HEE [kjdnational@joongang.co.kr]