Mykola Kulinich
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, PhD in History, Full Professor of the Department of International Relations of the Faculty of Law and International Relations, Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University; ORCID: 0009-0007-8396-1462
Halyna Sahan
Doctor of History, Full Professor of the Department of World History of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University; ORCID: 0000-0001-8301-849X
DOI:
Abstract. The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the history, current state, and prospects of the Ukrainian community in the Republic of Korea, considered within the broader framework of Ukrainian migration in the twenty-first century. It outlines the historical background of Ukrainians’ presence on the Korean Peninsula and the more recent migration waves of the early 2000s. Special attention is devoted to the gradual institutionalisation of the community and to the role of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Korea, which has become a crucial factor in consolidating Ukrainian residents and encouraging their cultural, educational, and social initiatives. The study examines a wide range of community cultural diplomacy activities, including preserving and promoting national traditions, and public events to raise awareness about Ukraine. Particular emphasis is placed on the consequences of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which significantly accelerated the mobilisation of Ukrainians abroad and enhanced their representative potential in Korean society. The article argues that, although the Ukrainian community in Korea has not yet fully acquired the status of a consolidated diaspora, it is actively moving toward this stage. Its further development will depend on the combined efforts of Ukrainian state institutions, local community leaders, and cooperation with Korean partners.
Keywords: Ukrainians in the Republic of Korea, diaspora, migration processes, cultural diplomacy, civic engagement, cultural activity, Ukraine–Korea relations, Embassy of Ukraine in the ROK, russia’s full-scale invasion.
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