Korean Cultural Center, Ussuriysk

The Ussuriysk Korean Cultural Center (Russian: Корейский культурный центр, Уссурийск; Korean: 우수리스크 고려인문화센터) is a branch of the South Korean Korean Cultural Centers in Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai, Russia.[1] It was built in 2009, and serves as a center for activities for Koryo-saram: ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union.[1] It also houses the Maritime Territory Koryo-saram Cultural Association (Национально-культурной автономии корейцев города Уссурийска и Приморского края, 'National-cultural Autonomy of Koreans of the City of Ussuriysk, Primorsky Krai'; 연해주 고려인 민족 문화 자치회).[1]

Ussuriysk Korean Cultural Center
The building in 2015
General information
AddressUssuriysk, Russia
Coordinates43.8065°N 131.9507°E / 43.8065; 131.9507
Completed2009
Technical details
Floor count2
Floor area4,000 m2 (43,000 sq ft)

The building is host to a Museum of the History of Russian Koreans, which covers the history of Koryo-saram.[2]

Description

An Ussuriysk Koryo-saram cultural organization was first established in 1991. Planning for the construction of a building for their activities began in 2004, and was completed by 2009.[1] It has two floors above ground, and a floor area of around 4,000 square meters (43,000 sq ft).[1] The history museum was first opened on October 31, 2009.[1] The organization also manages a separate history exhibit at the former house of the Korean independence activist Choi Jae-hyeong (Пётр Семёнович Цой).[1][3][4] A monument to another independence activist An Jung-geun also stands outside the building.[4]

The building is now host to a number of cultural activities, including free Korean language classes,[5] a Korean traditional dance group Arirang (named for Arirang, the Korean folk song), and a Korean drum group.[1] A Korean restaurant and library are present on the first floor.[1] A monthly Russian-language newspaper is also published from the building.[5]

The building and organization have become notable for their celebrations of the holiday Chuseok.[6][1] Their events become so popular with non-Korean residents of the city, that the mayor of Ussuriysk observed in October 2014 that the holiday had become a holiday for the entire city.[1] For their 2023 celebration, on the 160th anniversary of the first arrival of Koreans emigrants to Russia, over a thousand Koryo-saram participated.[1]

On September 6, 2017, the First Lady of South Korea Kim Jung-sook visited the building and participated in several cultural activities.[7]

  • An exhibit in the museum showing various Korean agricultural tools, including a winnowing basket (2016)
    An exhibit in the museum showing various Korean agricultural tools, including a winnowing basket (2016)

See also

References
  1. "우수리스크 고려인문화센터". 세계한민족문화대전. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  2. "Музей истории российских корейцев". primorkkc.ru. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  3. "Statue to honor freedom fighter unveiled in Russia". koreajoongangdaily.joins.com. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  4. "Ussuriysk, foothold of Korea's independence movement". koreatimes. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  5. "Ussuriysk, foothold of Korea's independence movement". koreatimes. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  6. "연해주 우수리스크시서 추석맞이 '고려인 문화의날' 축제". 한국경제 (in Korean). 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  7. "First lady honors Korean independence in Russia : Korea.net : The official website of the Republic of Korea". www.korea.net. September 7, 2017. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
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