Gwangju Goryeoin Village Gains Attention as a Diaspora Community Embracing War Refugees

Presentation of Ukrainian Refugee Settlement Cases
Academics: "Institutional Support Such as Permanent Residency Needed"

Gwangju Goryeoin Village is gaining attention as a new diaspora community model by embracing Goryeoin refugees from the Ukraine war.

Gwangju Goryeoin Village is gaining attention as a new diaspora community model by embracing Goryeoin refugees from the Ukraine war. Photo by Chosun University

According to Goryeoin Village on May 28, Professor Ko Gayoung of the Asia Center at Seoul National University recently gave a presentation titled "Mobility of Goryeoin Refugees from the Ukraine War and the Expansion of the Gwangju Goryeoin Village Community" at an international academic conference jointly hosted by Chosun University, Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan, and the Tamla Culture Research Institute at Jeju National University.

Professor Ko analyzed the cases of Goryeoin refugees who settled in Gwangju after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, stating, "Goryeoin Village is more than just a residential area; it is a symbolic space where diaspora memories, culture, and language intersect." She added, "It serves as a resettlement model that provides a new foundation for those who have lost their livelihoods due to war or state violence." She further emphasized that there are limitations to hospitality offered solely at the private level, and stressed the need for institutional support such as permanent residency for Goryeoin refugees.

Academic interest is also continuing. To date, two doctoral dissertations and dozens of papers in domestic and international journals have been published, and in 2024, three related papers were published in SCI-level international journals. While early research focused on village leadership and management systems, recent attention has shifted to the value of the village as a model for community recovery amid war and disaster.

This academic conference, held over two days from May 23 to 24 under the theme "Disasters, Migration, and Community Solidarity in East Asia," highlighted cases of migrants who lost their homes due to natural disasters, war, or state violence.

Presentations were given by Kwon Junhee (University of California), Cheon An (Chinese Academy of Sciences), and Choi Hyundeok (University of Tuebingen), among others. Participants also visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery to experience the process of community solidarity and recovery.

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