[5] Koryo-saram began arriving in the area after 1992, as movement restrictions were eased after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The economies of the former Soviet states were impacted, which led to Koryo-saram seeking opportunities in South Korea.

[5] Ttaetgol was favored for its lower cost of living, as well as its proximity to factories,[4][1] schools,[5] and the capital Seoul.

[4] The area is actually next to Wongok-dong, which is itself host to a large immigrant community of Joseon-jok (the Korean diaspora in China) and workers from South East Asia.

[5] In October 2011, a night school called "Neomeo" (너머) for learning the Korean language was created for Koryo-saram in the area.

Kim later said that he founded the school because he had heard that Koryo-saram were encountering difficulties and discrimination in South Korean society often due to their language barriers, so he wanted to assist them.

[3] The immigrants rejuvenated the community, as they brought their families along with them, which led to an increase in the number of children in the area.

[3]In 2014, the district and city governments began devoting more attention to developing support institutions for Koryo-saram in the area.