Korean Korenizatsiia and Its Socialist Construction 73languages, so local Koreans and Chinese were hired to translate for local
Rus sian authorities (see Figure 4).^106
Nineteen twenty- six marked an increased emphasis on education as
the principal tool of “cultural work” among all the vari ous nationalities in
the RFE. It was noted that Korean youth were found to be very malleable
and adaptable towards CP recruitment and socialist lit er a tures. The CP
deci ded to open more schools in rural areas.^107 At the same time, scholarships
were now being offered to Siberian natives (such as the Yukagir, Samoed,
Tungus, Goldy, and Chukchi) to study in rabfaks.^108 Gerasim Pak’s father
immigrated to the RFE when he was two years old. He finished a rabfak
while working full- time and then became a teacher of Rus sian language and
lit e ra t ure in the network of Korean schools in the Ussuri.^109
In 1928, a “Soviet Party School” (an institute awarding a diploma) in
Vladivostok celebrated its fifth year. The SPS institute’s enrollment was
comprised of 49 Koreans, 36 Chinese, 21 Rus sians and other nationalities
(unlisted). Of the student body, there were 9 women, 57 proletariat, 48
farmers, 7 white- collar workers and 4 full- time students. Each nationality
studied in a separate section using its native language.^110 In May 1928, a
“Night Communist University” was also opened in Vladivostok. Its students
Figure 4. Koreans Guarding the RFE. (Left) Koreans serving as tsarist customs/border
guards at the Korean- Russian border, 1915; (right) Nikolai Nigai in his NKVD uniform at
Shkotovo branch, 1935. Photos courtesy of Larisa Kim(l.) and Raisa Nigai(r.).