By Sohn JiAe
Photos = Yonhap News

President Moon Jae-in has expressed his deep gratitude toward the Korean-Russian community for having contributed to the development of the Korea-Russia relationship and, also, to the development of the Russian Far East.

President Moon met with more than 180 ethnic Korean Russians -- many of whom are descendants of independent fighters or forced laborers from the dark days of colonialism -- at the Hyundai Hotel in Vladivostok on Sept. 7. President Moon said, “Ever since 13 Joseon families settled for the first time in the Maritime Province of Siberia, you -- Koreans, settling in this country -- have pulled through ordeals and sufferings, surviving in this unfamiliar land. You’ve shown bravery and strength, ushering in your new future. I’m so happy for this and proud of this.”



Noting that the population of ethnic Koreans across Russia has reached around 160,000, the president stressed that, “Our people are highly credited for their unusual diligence and for having been a driving force of economic growth in the Russian Far East.”

He vowed to do his utmost to “pay our nation’s heavy debt to you, of not having been able to protect our people in the past,” as he outlined his government’s plans to increase vocational programs and scholarships for talented students, and to carry out projects to invite descendants of ethnic Korean residents in Russia back to their homeland.

jiae5853@korea.kr