Around 180 displaced ethnic Koreans based in Russia are planning to return to Korea and live in South Gyeongsang Province. They were moved to the island of Sakhalin after the 1904 Russo-Japanese War and during the Japanese occupation.
This is the first time Sakhalin Koreans have decided to permanently resettle in the province, according to its Red Cross chapter and Gimhae City officials, Wednesday.
Of the 181 people, 101 will reside in 50 rental apartments in Gimhae City and the other 80 will live at 40 households in Yangsan.
46 of those relocating to Gimhae City will move in Friday, while the rest will move in individually.
Local authorities will help them settle in, as well as support each individual with 400,000 won to cover basic monthly living costs. Charity organizations will provide social adjustment training programs.
From 1910 to 1945, more than 150,000 Koreans were relocated to Sakhalin, an island northeast of Japan and east of Russia, to work in Japanese coal mines and lumber yards.