| NK population and population movement [message #8452] |
Fri, 24 March 2006 07:04 |
james foley
Messages: 3
Registered: November 2002
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Junior Member |
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Dear Reudiger and all,
the best source on Korea's demography is
undoubtedly - Kwon Tai-hwan (1977) The Demography of Korea Seoul: Seoul
National University Press (in English).
In answer to Aidan's question, I'm afraid all we have are estimates.
Although the Japanese did 'measure everything', the problems for
demographers start with division. Kyonggi-do and Kangwon-do were both, of
course, bisected by the 38th parallel and, after the War, by the DMZ. This,
coupled with the confusion of the post-liberation period and the chaos of
the War, means that (educated) estimates are the best we have.
There are a number of estimates of movement across the divide in the periods
in question in my book on the divided families.
It should also be born in mind when looking at figures for movement across
the Korean divide that, besides the obvious massive over-estimations for
propaganda purposes on the part of the South, a lot of the movement was in
fact 'returnee'. Many Koreans from the South had gone, either voluntarily or
otherwise, to work in the Japanese industries established in the North
during the occupation, and to Manchuria. Naturally, after the Japanese
collapse they wanted to return home and had no choice but to return to their
kohyang in the South through what had become the northern Soviet occupation
zone.
James Foley (Sheffield)
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