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2026. Vol.11. №2.

Harvest of joy: A study of the Soviet Uzbekistan Korean millionaire kolkhoz “Politotdel” (1925-1985)

Jul 21 2026

Kim Chang Jin. Harvest of joy: A study of the Soviet Uzbekistan Korean millionaire kolkhoz “Politotdel” (1925-1985) // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2026. V.11. №2. P. 81-99.

EDN: MMZZUJ

Annotation

This study is an attempt of understanding the unique nature of the Soviet kolkhoz, which was both an agricultural production unit and a core institution of rural community. The issue of “advanced (or millionaire) kolkhozes” is one of those revealing the limitations and advantages of the Soviet kolkhoz system. Moreover, the experience of “advanced kolkhozes” from the mid-1930s to the 1980s allowed peasants to develop a form of local socialism from below through the “harvest of joy” rather than the “harvest of sorrow”. The “Politotdel” was one of the most famous Korean millionaire kolkhozes not only in Uzbekistan but also in the Soviet Union for about thirty years from the late 1950s. In 1953, when Hwang Man Gum with a strong entrepreneurial spirit was elected its leader, the “Politotdel” reached a turning point and made a leap forward in a short period of time. Its secrets of success were labor discipline ensured by efficient labor organization and fair wages, cultivation of kenaf and cotton as profitable main crops, mechanization (purchase of large agricultural machines after reorganization of MTS — Machine and Tractor Stations), and a solid feed base for livestock (due to the record corn harvest). The “Politotdel” and other Korean millionaire kolkhozes in Central Asia accumulated common assets of the local community in cooperation with rural intellectuals. Kolkhoz leaders, mid-level executives and farmers of the “Politotdel” were not passive individuals who simply obeyed the rules of the state command economy — they were innovators who created the “Soviet-style commons led from below” by peaceful multi-ethnic communities in rural society of Uzbekistan for decades. Through the historical experience of the advanced kolkhoz one can understand those institutional and practical characteristics of the Soviet kolkhoz that are not captured in the general picture of “failed kolkhoz agriculture and rural reality”.

Keywords

Soviet kolkhoz, Korean millionaire kolkhoz, kolkhoz “Politotdel”, duality of kolkhoz, Korean struggle for recognition, commons, multi-ethnic peace community.  

About the author

Kim Chang Jin, DSc (Political Sciences), Professor, SungKongHoe University. Yeon Dongro, Guro Gu, Seoul, Korea.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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2024. Vol.9. №4.

Lost Paradise: The phenomenon of ‘Soviet Korean Advanced Kolkhozes’ in Central Asia (Part 2)

Feb 10 2025

Kim Chang Jin. Lost Paradise: The phenomenon of ‘Soviet Korean Advanced Kolkhozes’ in Central Asia (Part 2) // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2024. V.9. №4. P. 159-177.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2024-9-4-159-177

Annotation

In the history of Soviet kolkhoz (collective-farm) research, the ‘advanced kolkhoz (millionaire) phenomenon’ remains almost unexplored, although it was a notable social-economic phenomenon. Members of the Korean advanced kolkhozes in Central Asia, which operated since the late 1930s to the 1980s, at first adapted to the kolkhoz system through hard work, but later became very active in creating social-cultural institutions within the kolkhoz system for common benefit (not only ethnic Koreans but also natives). Regionally, the overwhelming majority of Korean advanced kolkhozes, including the legendary ‘Polar Star’ and ‘Politotdel’, were active in Uzbekistan, followed by Kazakhstan. Perhaps, Korean advanced kolkhozes in Central Asia reached the peak of the Soviet-style socialist agricultural civilization in the 1960s — 1970s. These well-to-do Korean kolkhozes in Central Asia developed a strong social infrastructure in their community as a basis for the contemporary living culture. Local common assets were formed from their own abundant undivided funds, consumption and cultural funds. However, what is more important is that Korean kolkhozes-millionaires not only built an excellent material and technical foundation in the villages based on their high economic performance, but also created harmonious multiethnic communities while enjoying various social benefits similar to city life.

Keywords

Soviet Korean advanced kolkhoz, Central Asia, community-wealth building, competent dedicated leader, efficient labor organization, kolkhoz garden city, multiethnic community.

About the author

Kim Chang Jin, Dsc (Political Science), Professor, SungKongHoe University. 320 Yeon Dongro, Guro Gu, Seoul, Korea; Visiting Researcher, Institute of Asian Studies, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Avenue, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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2024. Vol.9. №2.

Lost Paradise: The phenomenon of ‘Soviet Korean Advanced Kolkhozes’ in Central Asia (Part 1)

Jul 20 2024

Kim Chang Jin. Lost Paradise: The phenomenon of ‘Soviet Korean Advanced Kolkhozes’ in Central Asia (Part 1) // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2024. V.9. №2. P. 109-138.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2024-9-2-109-138

Annotation

In the history of Soviet kolkhoz (collective-farm) research, the ‘advanced kolkhoz (millionaire) phenomenon’ remains almost unexplored, although it was a notable social-economic phenomenon. Members of the Korean advanced kolkhozes in Central Asia, which operated from the late 1930s to the 1980s, at first adapted to the kolkhoz system through hard work, but later became very active in creating social-cultural institutions within the kolkhoz system for common benefit (not only ethnic Koreans but also natives). Regionally, the overwhelming majority of Korean advanced kolkhozes, including the legendary ‘Polar Star’ and ‘Politotdel’, were active in Uzbekistan, followed by Kazakhstan. Perhaps, Korean advanced kolkhozes in Central Asia reached the peak of the Soviet-style socialist agricultural development in the 1960s — 1970s. These wellto-do Korean kolkhozes in Central Asia developed a strong social infrastructure in their community as a basis for the contemporary living culture. Local common assets were formed from their own abundant undivided funds, consumption and cultural funds. However, what is more important is that Korean kolkhozes-millionaires not only built an excellent material and technical foundation in the village based on their high economic performance, but also created harmonious multiethnic communities while enjoying various social benefits similar to city life.

Keywords

Soviet Korean advanced kolkhoz, Central Asia, community-wealth building, competent dedicated leader, efficient labor organization, kolkhoz garden city, multiethnic community.

About the author

Kim Chang Jin, Dsc (Political Science), Professor, SungKongHoe University. 320 Yeon Dongro, Guro Gu, Seoul, Korea; Visiting Researcher, Institute of Asian Studies, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Avenue, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

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2020. Vol.5. №3.

Korean modernization and peasant mobilization in the 1960s and 1970s

Oct 17 2020

Kim Chang Jin. Korean modernization and peasant mobilization in the 1960s and 1970s // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2020. V.5. №3. P. 109-130.

DOI: 10.22394/2500-1809-2020-5-3-109-130

Annotation

In the contemporary world history, rural communities and small producers did not naturally disappear due to the loss of economic competitiveness, but were artificially constrained and destroyed by the state laws, institutions, and policies. South Korea, which is considered a representative success case of the late capitalist industrialization after the World War II, can be an important example to examine the relevance of this challenging perspective. Korea’s economic success was largely determined by the NACF (National Agricultural Cooperatives Federation) lack of integrity: it was to be a voluntary and autonomous organization of farmers, but became a subordinate partner of the agricultural policy of the military government. The Saemaul (New Country) Movement developed by the government to promote rural innovations actually accelerated the decline of agriculture for it was used to control farmers. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Korean rural society was deeply dependent on the state power. At the same time, the farmers resistance developed as a reaction to the military government policies, and the NACF became the target of the farmers collective resistance movement. Thus, under the Park Chung Hee’s regime, Korean farmers were to participate in the national economy and become a part of the mandatory social-economic movement; however, they never managed to achieve a true class/collective political representation.

Keywords

Korean modernization, peasant mobilization, Park Chung Hee’s regime, NACF, Saemaul Movement, peasant movement, state power, autonomous modernization power

About the author

Kim Chang Jin, DSc (Political Science), Professor, Sungkonghoe University. 320, Yeondong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul, 08359, South Korea.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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