The Research Center for Overseas Korean Economic Network (Director: Prof. Im Chae-wan, Dept. of Political Science) produced a series of eleven books on the economy and culture of overseas Koreans. The Research Center for Overseas Korean Economic Network has been funded by the Korea Research Foundation (KRF) for the last two years. With the KRF’s financial support, the Center conducted a project aiming at building an international Korean business network by gathering people together living in 150 countries in the world. For the project, the Center investigated the current situations of Korean communities including their economic environment, business activities, and trades. The issues such as education, NGOs, media, human rights, residential culture, information industry, and women
s status in the communities were examined. Based on the investigations, the research team published a series of 11 books covering a wide range of aspects of overseas Koreans. Ten books were published first and the rest book will be released soon. The survey participants were 660 Koreans living in six countries; the United States, Japan, China, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. Their economic condition, business activities, trade, education, organizational activities, journalism, human rights movements, socio-culture, information resources were investigated for the collection. The main themes of the series are different by each volume. - Economic environment of Korean Community in the United States (Co-authored by Kim Tae-ki, Im Chae-wan, Jang Seon-mi, Sohn Ki-hyong, & Lee Seung-joon) - Economic environment of Korean Community in Japan (Co-authored by Choi Seok-sin, Im Chae-wan, Baek Hyong-yeop, Cho Seong-do, & Lee Seok-in) - Economic environment of Korean Community in China (Co-authored by Choi Woong-yong, Im Chae-wan, Lee Jang-seop, Kang Tae-gu, & Yoon Soon-seok) - Migration of Koryo People and Their Economic Environment (Co-authored by Nam Hye-gyong, Im Chae-wan, Choi Han-woo, Lee Won-yong, Shim Heon-yong, & Kang Myong-goo) - The Actual State of the National Education for Overseas Koreans (Co-authored by Kim Kyong-keun, Im Chae-wan, Koh Hyong-eel, & Hwang Ki-woo) - The Legal Status and Basic Rights of Overseas Koreans (Co-authored by Kim Myong-jae, Im Chae-wan, Hong Ki-moon, Jang Shin, Song Oh-sik, Cho Sang-kyun, Lee Seung-woo, & Lee Joon) - Fundamental Studies on the History and Current Conditions of Overseas Koreans’ Press (Co-authored by Kim Won-tae, Im Chae-wan, Min Hyong-bae, Bae Han-dong, Im Hyon-mo, Hwang Oh-yon, & Moon Byong-hoon) - Living Conditions and Rituals of Overseas Korean Women (Co-authored by Kim Kyong-shin, Im Chae-wan, Lee Seon-mi, & Kim Myong-hye) - Literature Resources and Actual State of Overseas Koreans (Co-authored by Lee Myong-kyu, Im Chae-wan, Sagong Bok-hee, Jang Woo-kwon, & Kim Tae-un) : To be released - Yesterday and Today of Overseas Korean Organizations (Co-authored by Choi Hyeop, Im Chae-wan, Nah Hyong-wook, Oh Soo-yeol, Yoon Seong-seok, & Jeon Hyong-kwon) - Socio-economy of Overseas Koreans
Residential Communities (Co-authored by Im Chae-wan, Jang Yoon-soo, Choi Young-kwan, Lee Jin-young, Choi Young-pyo, & Kim Jae-ki) The series has a great significance in an aspect that the migration history of overseas Koreans has been researched and written in an organized form. For the data investigation, about 20,000 cases were examined and 8,000 people participated in the survey. In addition, an in-depth interview for 500 distinguished people living in foreign countries was conducted as well. Overseas Koreans
networks in all forms play a truly significant role in both our society and other global societies. Their groups are empowering and vital to developed and well-rounded communities and should be universally supported by governments and communities. About 6 million Koreans, close to 10 percent of the current population of the Korean peninsula, now live and work outside the peninsula around the world. This Korean diaspora is making a positive impact on both the Korean and foreign economies that play host to the overseas Koreans. Overseas Koreans, especially ethnic Koreans from China, are providing a low-wage labor resource for the homeland. Director Im Chae-wan said, \"The important but little noticed \"Korean diaspora\" began in 1863 with the migration of 13 Korean families to the Maritime Province of Siberia. The history of Korean migration has continued for the last 140 years. In order to analyze the Korean diaspora
s past and potential future economic impact, and to record the history of overseas Koreans, we started out to build up the database. At first, I asked myself this project regarding to Han-minjok (Koreans
) networks and communities is more like nationalism. However, as I keep doing this project, I feel proud of being a Korean owing to overseas Koreans who are experiencing tragic history in person.\" \"I do hope this investigation would be useful to build a network connecting the overseas Koreas in a group,\" he added. The Research Center for Overseas Korean Economic Network is currently conducting the 3rd stage project. When the project completes, a series of 33 books covering the research results on overseas Koreans will be published. The Korean economic network directories, overseas Korean organizations, educational institutions, and culture & art groups will be additionally published.