Russia: Treatment of ethnic Koreans in Dalnerechensk; availability of state protection and an internal flight alternative (IFA)

Dalnerechensk is located on the border with China in Primorsky Kray, about 300 kilometres northeast of Vladivostok (The Times Atlas of the World 1990, pl. 40). According to information found in the Centre for Russian Studies database, in 1989 there were about 8,500 ethnic Koreans in Primorsky Kray, or about 0.4 per cent of the total population, making ethnic Koreans the sixth-largest ethnic group. Approximately 26 per cent of the total number spoke Korean, with the balance (74 per cent) speaking Russian (ibid.).

No reports on the treatment of ethnic Koreans in the city of Dalnerechensk could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Information on the situation and treatment of ethnic Koreans in the eastern regions of Russian, beyond that contained in RUS30761.E of 15 December 1998, was scarce.

On 4 September 1997 the Vladivostok News reported that ethnic Koreans returning to Primorsky Kray from other regions of Russia and the former USSR were facing difficulties. According to the report,

In 1993 the Supreme Soviet issued a decree "On the rehabilitation of Soviet Koreans" and established a federal program to help the Korean population…. However, the program has not been implemented due to lack of money.

[According to] Zinaida Zayika, head of the department for nationalities with Primorye administration, … the government [might] pay them when we become richer. Until then, the Koreans who are coming back are on their own. Korean associations do not have much to offer the settlers either.

Koreans biggest concern is the "Asia-phobia" of some organizations and media toward the returning Koreans. A story in Kommersant Daily, a central newspaper, raised once again Stalin's old canard that Koreans wanted to create an autonomous region in Primorye and reunite with South Korea.

"We do feel resistance, which is connected with economic conditions," said Telmir Kim, head of the Korean revival fund. "What adds to the resistance is the arrival of Chinese and Chinese Koreans." The krai administration denies that there is a reluctance to accept returnees.

Information on the availability of an internal flight alternative (IFA) could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

For general information on state protection in Russia, please consult Country Reports 1999.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Centre for Russian Studies (NUPI). 3 May 2000. "Ethnic Composition of 'Primorye'." [Accessed 3 May 2000]

The Times Atlas of the World. 1990. 8^th ed. New York: Random House.

Vladivostok News. 4 September 1997. No. 149. Nonna Cheryakova. "Coming Home." [Accessed 3 May 2000]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases.

World News Connection (WNC).

Internet sites including:

Country Reports 1999. February 2000.

Minorities at Risk Project.

Moscow Helsinki Group. The Human Rights Situation in the Russian Federation, 1998. September 1999.

The Moscow Times.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

Slavic Research Centre.

Transitions [Prague].

UK Home Office country assessments.