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Full Version: The gentle decline of the Yanbian.
China History Forum, Chinese History Forum > Chinese History Topics > Chinese Ethnic Groups and Peoples > Ethnic Minorities of China
Danny.T
As reported by Dr. Andre Lankov the Yanbian Autonomous Prefecture where 800,000 Korean Chinese are residing would be diminished in number further as the educated Korean Chinese would find better jobs in other Chinese big cities or even doing unskilled labour jobs in S. Korea. Also their birth rate is low being more educated. The percentage of Koreans in this area dropped from 60% of 1953 to 36% of 2000 and still dropping.

When a local is asked about discrimination :

"Discrimination? Well, almost none, to be frank. They appoint some Han Chinese officials to supervise the administration, but basically I don't think Korean people here have problems with promotions or business because of their ethnicity. Sometimes being a minority even helps a bit - it's easier to get to a university if you come from a minority group."


When another local is asked about identity :
"We are a minority group of China, China is our country, so there is no need to study Korean history or literature," one ethnic Korean told me. "When they teach national history at our schools, it means the history of China, and China only."

Dr. Lankov's comment :
but it seems that the overwhelming majority of the local Koreans indeed see themselves as "hyphenated Chinese", not as proud overseas citizens of either Korean state. Their loyalties are, in most cases, firmly with Beijing.

It was instructive to see two Korean families who sat next to me on a train: the youngsters, in their 20s, spoke Korean to the parents but preferred Mandarin among themselves.

So this is what's going on in China where a minority ethnic group undergoes further sinification process not by force but by rational choice as analysed by Dr. Lankov "who enjoys dog meat soup there."

Details of Dr. Andrei Lankov 's essay on the topic visit this site :
Asia Times

I would say other minority ethnic groups are also going through more or less same sinification process as China modernises.
What would you think?
Andy Lau
i think most ethnic minorities in china (ex Koreans, SHE, etc) are presently and slowly going through sinification, because of the importance of Chinese throughout the country. Maybe in areas where ethnic Hans are a minority like Tibet or Xinjiang, the ethnic minorities there i believe are still capable of preserving their identity because Chinese probably isn't the means of cummunication among most of the local population and seperatism is also in their minds. Perhaps i am wrong lol
sg_han
Unity in diversity!
General_Zhaoyun
As far as I know, the Korean Chinese (known as Chaoxian or Korean Ethnic) can still speak Korean well. I've met quite a number of Korean chinese in Beijing and many speak both korean and chinese well enough.
ulji
The memory of Chinese atrocities of the late 40's and during cultural revolution is dead with the older generation.
The younger generation of ethnic Koreans in china is perhaps the most loyal segment of today's PRC whose good will, quite amusingly, is not reciprocated by the Han majority who have a very disdainful view of them.

Neither are these people very well liked by their Korean cousins across the border(both north and south). For a good reason.

There is a lot of emotional anger in this group most of which is directed toward South Koreans who in turn do not hesitate to reciprocate the animosity.

A very sad lot.
Suren911
QUOTE(ulji @ Oct 14 2007, 08:18 PM) *
The younger generation of ethnic Koreans in china is perhaps the most loyal segment of today's PRC whose good will, quite amusingly, is not reciprocated by the Han majority who have a very disdainful view of them.

I'm not sure why you say this, but from what I've seen, Koreans don't have it bad in China at all. Friendship and intermarriage is very common, and where I'm from, it's actually nice to marry a Korean because of their hard-working stereotype.
ulji
QUOTE(Suren911 @ Oct 16 2007, 07:03 PM) *
I'm not sure why you say this, but from what I've seen, Koreans don't have it bad in China at all. Friendship and intermarriage is very common, and where I'm from, it's actually nice to marry a Korean because of their hard-working stereotype.


Everyone can be a friend on a nice day.
But in a quarrel after a beer or two, a Han would say to the Korean "Go back to your country".

I have heard this from the Korean Chinese themselves on many occasions.

I find this quite comical. Almost feel guilty finding it funny.

That China is a multi ethnic state is just goverment propaganda. In reality most, both Han and minorites, think that China is a country of the Han majority who "grant" the ethnic minorities the right to live.
YuenKamSiu
QUOTE(ulji @ Oct 16 2007, 09:37 PM) *
Everyone can be a friend on a nice day.
But in a quarrel after a beer or two, a Han would say to the Korean "Go back to your country".

I have heard this from the Korean Chinese themselves on many occasions.

I find this quite comical. Almost feel guilty finding it funny.

That China is a multi ethnic state is just goverment propaganda. In reality most, both Han and minorites, think that China is a country of the Han majority who "grant" the ethnic minorities the right to live.

And by offering biased opinions based solely on anecdotal evidence, you are kind of doing exactly what you're claiming to oppose, spreading a political agenda based on propaganda.
ulji
QUOTE(YuenKamSiu @ Oct 17 2007, 12:12 AM) *
And by offering biased opinions based solely on anecdotal evidence, you are kind of doing exactly what you're claiming to oppose, spreading a political agenda based on propaganda.


It is not like your accusation is based on hard facts either.
YuenKamSiu
Ulji,

Please do yourself a huge favor and read the guidelines/rules to posting on these forums because you are seriously getting off on the wrong foot. Just a friendly suggestion.
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