2019, Vol.9, No.1

Asia Review 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.86

pISSN : 2234-0386
https://journal.kci.go.kr/asiareview

From a perspective of diaspora politics, this study examines the formation processes of “reverse diaspora” of Kor yo˘i n (descendants of those Korean who were forcefully migrated from the Maritime Provinces of the Far East to Central Asia in 1937) who remigrate from Central Asia to their historical “homeland,” South Korea, in the 2000s and 2010s. Specifically, by using newspaper articles from January 1, 1981 to July 20, 2019, this study examines the changes of diaspora identity of Kor yo˘i n in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, and shows that, after experiencing discrimination and exclusion in South Korea, Kor yo˘i n of Central Asia have come to recognize as their “true homeland”, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and other states of Central Asia in which they were born and grown up, and to form a “reverse diaspora” in their historical “homeland.” This study suggests that the meaning of “homeland”, which functions as a source of diaspora identity, is continuously changing in the processes of migration and remigration .

Central Asia holds a very important position in relation to the development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Earlier, Central Asian countries had received huge amounts of loans and investment and economic assistance from China across all sectors. The construction of roads, railways, bridges and tunnels, and the development of basic infrastructure were essential elements for economic development for the newly emerging Central Asian countries. Chinese investment in such areas as energy, agriculture, and other industries, and joint ventures and projects have certainly had a positive impact on the economic development of these countries. Nevertheless, there are concerns and questions in Central Asia about the Belt and Road Initiative over China’s growing influence and sustainability. This is especially true in the case of economically weak countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, where more than 40 percent of their foreign debt is attributable to China. A huge amount of loans is a serious problem, which could cause these countries to fall into debt traps. In addition, governments and people in Central Asia are concerned about the influx of Chinese labor.

Kazakhstan became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. The economy of Kazakhstan was very poor. However, in 1993, Kazakhstan successfully cooperated with Chevron Texaco, a multinational oil company, to develop the Tengiz oil field. This oil field development business has become the foundation of economic growth in Kazakhstan. Subsequently, energy resources have been used as a major tool to overcome the economic downturn in Kazakhstan over the past decade. Kazakhstan also played an important role in attracting attention as a major investment destination among emerging countries. The growth of the energy industry has led to the growth of the Kazakh economy. Until the global financial crisis in 2008, the Kazakh economy showed an annual average growth rate of 10%. The economic reform policies that have been pursued along with the economic growth also embody economic diversification with the economic crisis. The global economic downturn, which began in 2013, was a major cause of plunge in oil and commodity prices. Russia, which had a high economic dependence, also began to shrink as the economy received economic sanctions from the West due to the cream crisis. The economic situation in Kazakhstan has plummeted due to the changes in the external environment. The government of Kazakhstan has attempted a large-scale financial support policy to overcome the economic crisis. Nonetheless, the economic growth rate for 2015-2016 was only about 1% on average. Kazakhstan, which grew rapidly in the last period with a high economic growth rate, needs structural reforms for sustained and stable economic growth, and a variety of new long-term economic development strategies to replace the energy industry.