Almaty, November 29 – December 3, 2024 – The Korean Studies Center at Abylai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages successfully held the 6th Korean Studies Week. The event featured the 14th Central Asian Korean Studies Olympiad and the 9th Conference of Young Korean Studies Researchers from the CIS. Additionally, a series of guest lectures was organized, focusing on the history of Korea, the development of its society, economic aspects, inter-Korean relations, the history of Koreans in Russia’s Far East and their fate, as well as the timely topic of employment in Korean companies.
On November 28, 2024, the series of guest lectures began with a presentation to Abylai Khan KazUIR&WL students by Mr. Yong Nam Ro, Head of LG Electronics Representation in Russia and the CIS. His lecture highlighted Korea’s history, sociocultural and economic ties between Korea and Central Asia since the Silk Road era, and the prospects of the new “K-Silk Road” initiative, which includes several key cooperation directions. The lecturer shared his personal work experience in various countries, including Kazakhstan. The session concluded with an active Q&A, where students could ask questions and share their thoughts.
On November 29, following the opening ceremony, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Almaty, Mr. Park Naecheon, delivered a lecture on “The History and Development of Korea. Inter-Korean Relations and South Korea’s Government Policy Towards North Korea.” He outlined the key periods in the history of the Korean Peninsula, including its most challenging times and the flourishing of the Republic of Korea, along with its rapid economic growth and development prospects.
On the same day, Mr. Woo Soo Han, Vice President of Chung-Ang University in Korea, delivered a lecture on “Economy and Logistics of the Republic of Korea.” He provided insights into Korea’s modern economic development and the role of logistics in this process, focusing on organizational, managerial, and production-technology aspects.
On December 2, 2024, Mr. Kim Hong Hwan, Director of the Almaty Korean Education Center at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan, gave a lecture on “The Global Situation in the 19th–20th Centuries and the Emergence of the Korean Diaspora.” Addressing students from the Faculty of Oriental Studies specializing in the Korean language, he explained the historical prerequisites for the formation of the Korean diaspora in the Russian Empire and later in Central Asian countries. He elaborated on the events that led to the migration of Koreans from the Korean Peninsula to Russia’s Far East.
On December 3, 2024, Mr. Chung Byung Kyu, a representative of Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan JSC—a long-standing university partner—delivered the concluding lecture, titled “Employment in Korean Companies,” as part of the 6th Korean Studies Week. In the first part of the lecture, Mr. Chung discussed Shinhan Bank’s operations in Kazakhstan and shared his journey to securing a position in a major Korean bank. Drawing on personal experiences, he posed the central question of the lecture: “How to get a job in a Korean company?” The lecture generated significant interest among students, many of whom aspire to work in Korean companies.
In conclusion, the 6th Korean Studies Week provided all participants with an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge, experiences, and ideas. All events organized as part of the week aimed to deepen knowledge about Korea, enhance professional skills, develop networking, promote cultural exchange, and support Korean Studies as an essential field of academic research, especially in the context of intercultural and international relations.
The Korean Studies Center at Abylai Khan KazUIR&WL extends its gratitude to the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Almaty, the Almaty Education Center under the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan, Chung-Ang University of the Republic of Korea, the Association of South Korean Companies in Kazakhstan, the Alumni Association of the Korean Studies Department at Abylai Khan KazUIR&WL, the International Korean Foundation, and the Academy of Korean Studies of the Republic of Korea for their support in organizing and conducting the events of the 6th Korean Studies Week.