Reviving Jecheon: A Vision for Population Renewal

Reviving Jecheon: A Journey of Hope

The nearby mines gradually closed down, one after another, leading to a significant downturn in the cement industry that once stood as the pride of the city. As the years passed, more than a dozen schools shuttered their doors, and one of the two movie theaters in town ceased operations, with the second following suit soon after. By the time Kim Chang-gyu returned to Jecheon, South Korea, after spending four decades abroad and assuming the role of mayor, his hometown appeared resigned to its fate of decline.

Jecheon, nestled at the base of two majestic mountain ranges, was marked by a town center filled with vacant storefronts, where local entrepreneurs lamented the challenges of finding willing workers. Like many other small cities across South Korea, Jecheon is grappling with the dual issues of rapid aging and alarmingly low birthrates. In response to these pressing challenges, other shrinking cities have experimented with various strategies, such as offering monetary incentives to newlyweds and providing free housing to families with school-aged children.

However, Mr. Kim, a seasoned diplomat, envisioned a more ambitious solution: reaching out to Central Asia and the estimated half a million people of Korean descent who have built lives there over nearly a century. His goal was to persuade enough of these individuals to relocate to Jecheon, a city with a current population of 130,000 that is sadly on the decline. He believed that their arrival could help lay a solid foundation for the city’s rejuvenation.

The ancestors of these Central Asian Koreans departed the Korean Peninsula more than a century ago, seeking new opportunities in the eastern reaches of Siberia. In 1937, during a period of intense political upheaval, the Soviet Union, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, forcibly rounded them up and deported them to what are now known as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Mr. Kim held onto the hope that, despite the fading language and historical ties, these former Soviet Koreans might find it easier to integrate into South Korean society compared to other migrant workers. He believed that their shared heritage would foster acceptance in a country that places significant importance on blood relations.