On November 29 and 30 this year, the 6th Week of Korean Studies organized by the Center of Korean Studies of Abylai Khan Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages (hereinafter KazUIR&WL) in cooperation with Chunan University of the Republic of Korea was held at the KazUIR&WL. The Korean Studies Week is one of the largest events held annually by the Center for Korean Studies at KazUIR&WL to enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas among young researchers of Korean Studies.
The 14th Central Asian Korean Studies Olympiad, the 9th CIS Young Korean Researchers Conference, and a series of special lectures by invited guests were held during the Week of Korean Studies.
In addition to participants from KazUIR&WL, representatives of such universities and educational institutions of Kazakhstan as Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Abay Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Suleiman Demirel University, Linguistic College, Pedagogical College of Foreign Languages took part in the events of the Week of Korean Studies. Besides the educational institutions of Almaty, where Korean language is taught, students from other cities of Kazakhstan participated in the events, including students from Astana, representing Nazarbayev University, Eurasian National University named after Gumilev, students of Kyzylorda University named after Korkyt-Ata, Taraz Regional University named after Dulati, East Kazakhstan University named after S. Amanzholov. Students from the Korean Institute in Central Asia and the Kyrgyz-Korean College (Kyrgyzstan), Pucheon University in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Baku State University (Azerbaijan), and Ilia State University (Georgia) participated in Korean Studies Week.
The opening ceremony of the 6th Korean Studies Week, held on November 29, was attended by the general Counsel of the Republic of Korea in Almaty Mr. Park Nae-Cheon, the delegation of Chungang University of the Republic of Korea headed by the Vice-Rector Mr. Woo Soo-Han, the head of LG Electronics in Russia and CIS Mr. Young Nam-Ro, the head of KF representative office in CIS countries Ms. Lee So-Myung. Vice-Rector of International Relations of KazUIR&WL J.T. Zhyltyrova in her welcoming speech congratulated on behalf of the Chairman of the Board-Rector of KazUIR&WL named after Abylai Khan academician S. Kunanbaeva all guests and guests of the event. Kunanbaeva congratulated all the guests and participants of the 6th Week of Korean Studies, wished productive work, success in research activities and strengthening the potential of young researchers, expressed her gratitude to all the organizations and institutions that made it possible to hold the 6th Week of Korean Studies in KazUIR&WL: general council of the Republic of Korea in Almaty, Almaty Education Center at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan, Chungang University of the Republic of Korea, Association of South Korean Companies in Kazakhstan. After the opening ceremony, Mr. Park Nae-Cheon, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Almaty, gave a special lecture on the history and development of Korea and inter-Korean relations. Mr. Woo Soo Han, Vice Rector of Chunan University, also addressed the participants of the 6th Korean Studies Week and gave a very interesting lecture on “Economy and Logistics of the Republic of Korea”.
At the 9th CIS Young Korean Researchers Conference, students specializing in Korean studies made presentations on topics related to Korean studies. The 14th Central Asian Korean Studies Olympiad was held on the same days, and on the first day a written test on Korean language, culture, history, geography, economics and politics was held. The second round of the Olympiad was held in the auditorium in front of the jury and all the participants of the 6th Korean Studies Week. Speeches of the Olympiad participants were evaluated by the jury, which included: Kim Hong Hwan - Director of Almaty Education Center at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan, Kim Jung Hoon - Director of KOTRA Almaty, Yoon Young Hee - Head of Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan, Lee Jae Wook - Partner Lawyer “BLJ LawFirm”.
The 6th Korean Studies Week ended with the closing ceremony, where the winners of the 14th Central Asian Olympiad in Korean Studies were announced. According to the results of the Olympiad, the first place was awarded to Zhunus Asiya, a 4th year student of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of KazUIR&WL, who also received a prize from the Rector of Chungang University. The second place was taken by Kairbekova Aruzhan Kairbekova, a 3rd year student of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of KazUIR&WL named after Abylai Khan, and Dastankyzy Akerke, a 4th year student of Kyzylorda University named after Korkyt-ata, the winners who took the 3rd place were: Zhaksylyk Fariza, a student of Gumilev Eurasian University, Marlanbek kyzy Alina, a 3rd year student of the Korean Institute in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan), Narmin Zeynalova Zeynalova, a 3rd year student of Baku State University (Azerbaijan), a special prize of the Alumni Association of the Korean Department of KazUIR&WL was awarded to Smail Marhabat, a student of the Linguistic College, Incentive prizes according to the results of the Olympiad were awarded to: Kadirkulova Dilnura - 3rd year student of Nazarbayev University, Samatkyzy Aruzhan - 3rd year student of KazUMOIMYA named after Abylai Khan, Amangazina Zhanbota - 4th year student of East Kazakhstan University named after S. Amanzholov, Jaichibayeva Asema - 2nd year student of Kyrgyz-Korean College (Kyrgyzstan).
The 6th Abylai Khan Korean Studies Week in KazUIR&WL brought together Korean language and Korean studies students from 16 universities in five countries, where all participants had the opportunity to listen to interesting and informative lectures by invited guests, share ideas, show their knowledge and gain experience in such events.