On October 31, the official opening ceremony of the Korea Corner took place at Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages, dedicated to the celebration of the 578th anniversary of the creation of the Korean script Hangul. The Korea Corner opening at Ablai Khan University was possible thanks to the program of support for foreign universities provided by the International Korea Foundation. The initiative to open the Korea Corner at our university belongs to the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Almaty.
The opening ceremony of the Korea Corner began with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, which was attended by the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Almaty Pak Ne-Cheon, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development of the University D.A. Kunanbayeva, Director of the Education Center at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea Kim Hong Hwan, Dean of the Faculty of Oriental Studies E.M. Kagazbayeva, Vice-President of Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan JSC Kang Gi-Tae and Director of the Center for Korean Studies U.A. Kim.
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, the guests got acquainted with the Korea Corner, located on the 8th floor of the main academic building. The official part of the Opening Ceremony began with a congratulatory speech by the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Almaty Pak Ne-Cheon and Dana Anuvarbekovna Kunanbayeva, Vice-Rector for Strategic Development of Ablai Khan University.
Then, the Director of the Center for Korean Studies Kim U. A., representing the Korea Corner, expressed gratitude to the university management represented by the Chairman of the Board - Rector, Academician Salima Sagievna Kunanbaeva for many years of supporting the Korean department, emphasizing that thanks to the comprehensive support from the university management, the successful development of the Korean department of the university, the creation of the Center for Korean Studies, and today the opening of K-corner became possible.
The Director of the Center for Korean Studies introduced the Korea Corner space to the guests present at the opening ceremony, which in addition to the Center for Korean Studies includes: the Korean Corner office, two classrooms, a conference room and the K-corner student lounge.
The goal of K-corner is to serve as a center for intercultural exchange, research related to Korean culture, history and modern development of Korea in close cooperation with the Consulate General of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty.
The objectives facing K-Corner include:
-- creation of a library and maintenance with literature and materials on Korean studies;
- organization of events, lectures and seminars on Korean culture;
- conducting master classes, seminars on Korean language, history, and culture of Korea.
Vice-Rector for Strategic Development Dana Anuvarbekovna Kunanbaeva expressed confidence that the activities of the Korea Corner will give an unconditional impetus to the growth of interest among students of our university in studying Korean culture, will contribute to a deeper understanding of Korea, and will become a place for young people to unite who are striving to contribute to strengthening and expanding bilateral ties between our countries.
After the grand opening, an award ceremony and presentation of certificates to students of the Korean Department of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Ablai Khan University was held in the K-Corner office. Vice President of Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan JSC Kang Gi Tae, who was present at the ceremony, presented certificates of scholarships from Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan JSC, annually awarded to the best students studying the Korean language, and certificates were also presented to the holders of the social scholarship of the Center for Korean Studies, a scholarship from the Chairman of the Alumni Association of the Korean branch of Ablai Khan University Shaikenov A. Traditionally, small memorable gifts were presented to students who successfully passed the TOPIK test to determine the level of the Korean language. The Center for Korean Studies annually holds a poetry reading competition in Korean and a video competition about Kazakhstan and Korea. On this day, the winners of these competitions were also awarded. At this time, a competition for cooking the Korean dish kimbap was held in the Korean Corner classroom. This annual competition is always especially popular among students. The event was decorated with a performance by fourth-year students of the Korean department Zhumagali Madina and Talgat Dariga, who performed famous Kazakh and Korean works on the dombra and flute. And the winners of the poetry competition, third-year students Kanapiya Kundyz and Otegenova Madina, recited poems by famous Korean poets.
In conclusion, it is worth to express confidence that K-Corner will become a place of attraction for young researchers of Korean studies and all those interested in Korea, those young people who will contribute to strengthening and expanding cooperation between the two countries.
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