Burnt by the Sun. The Koreans of the Russian Far East - Jon K. Chang

84 Chapter 5

and corruption. The majority of those deported were simply partisans and
the other charges were baseless.^23 It is quite likely that the Soviet government
disarmed the Korean partisans as a “peacekeeping” policy with Japan
because of the mutual cooperation between the Japa nese and Soviet govern-
ment regarding Koreans.^24 Some of the partisans were sent directly to Japan
(most of whom had never been there).^25 This incident of cooperation fore-
shadowed the Soviet- Japanese (Commercial) Convention of 1925. In regard
to the resolution to deport all Koreans from the Primore,^26 Khan (Andrei)
wrote directly to Moscow and the Deputy of Narkomnats (the Soviet Na-
tionalities Ministry), Broido, asking for their help. Khan’s letter (dated Jan-
uary 18, 1923) stated the following:

[from] Dalbureau, the Central Committee of the Rus sian CP put through

the resolution to deport all Koreans from the Primore. This is absurd.

The reason: the dissemination of Japa nese influence in the region through

Koreans.... What is needed here is not a complete refusal of the policy,

Dalbureau has long been occupied with our [Korean Bureau] rejections of

its policies; we need joint work as socialist brothers in order to settle the

nationality question [Korean]... (I request) basically that you speak with

Comrade Stalin on our nationality question; without it, we cannot peace-

fully settle the issue.^27

Most likely, Broido broached the subject with Stalin. Khan did not receive

a response from either Broido or Stalin. However, the Dalbureau resolution

to deport the Koreans was never carried out.^28

Just one year later, on August  10, 1923  in Vladivostok, Khan Myon

She spoke at a major Soviet conference of workers, peasants, Red Army

po liti cal staff, and Red Navy along with M. I. Kalinin, the chairman of the

Central Executive Committee (TsIK) and the figurehead “president” of

the USSR. This conference marked the return of Soviet power to the RFE.

Khan was introduced as the “Korean workers representative”; but essentially,

he had become the Korean community’s leader. The unspoken issue remained

territorial autonomy. We begin with Khan Myon She’s speech:

Comrades, the arrival of the head of the government of the Soviet Republic

in the Far East clearly indicates to all of the cap i tal ist world that the Far

East, in spite of their tricks, is manifestly an inseparable part of the Soviet

Republic. The arrival of Comrade Kalinin means that henceforth Workers

and Peasants power is strengthened and no kind of bandit force can shake

this power: in defense of this all stand as one workers, peasants, and Red