Population and Geographical Distribution

The Koreans (also known as the Chaoxian) are one of the 55 minority people groups of mainland China. There are about 2.2 million Koreans in China (although Korean sources say the true figure could be as high as 3 million). Most of them live in the three northeastern provinces of Jilin, Heilongjiang and Liaoning. The largest Korean community of about one million is found in Yanbian, an autonomous prefecture in Jilin province. Another large community is in Changbai county, also in Jilin..

Ethnicity and Language

The Koreans in China are descendents of immigrants from the Korean Peninsula from the end of the 17th century. Koreans also went over to China in the early 1900s when Japan colonized Korea; some Koreans went over in the early 1950s when the Korean War was going on. Also some Koreans have gone to China in the last 10-15 years, both to do business and, in the case of many Christians, to evangelize, but these Koreans have retained their South Korean citizenship.

Most of the Koreans use their own spoken and written language. In Yanji, capital of Jilin, about 70% speak their mother tongue. A small number of them also know the Han and Japanese languages. Newspapers in Korean script, radio stations and educational institutions using the Korean language exist in the three northeastern provinces of China (Dongbei).

Livelihood and Economic Situation

The main economic activities used to be agriculture and forestry but now tend to be small business and factories. The Koreans enjoy abundant natural produce in the areas that they inhabit. Yanbian Prefecture is a famous producing center of rice and fruit in the north. The ginseng, sable, and deer antler produced in Korean areas have long been known as the Three Treasures both in China and abroad.

Religion

Before 1949 almost 23% of the Koreans were Protestant Christians, and that recently has become true again. There are about 600,000 Christian Koreans in China. A small number of Koreans are followers of Confucianism or Buddhism mixed with some local Shamanism.

Christianity

It is estimated that Korean Christians in China now total about 600,000, which is about 27% of the total Korean population on the mainland. There are Korean churches in almost every major city and meeting places throughout Dongbei. Many churches with ethnic Koreans have Koreans who are serving as church leaders looking after both Korean and Han congregation. Some worship in the same church where Korean is used as the main language and Chinese as a secondary language. About 20% of the Korean Chinese have never heard the gospel, and 50% have heard but not responded. The Bible is being printed by Amity Press and a Korean hymnal is available. Some Koreans are able to visit their families in North Korea and are able to share the gospel with them.