A delegation of professors and senior lecturers of the Department of the Far East took part in the 11th Central Asian Scientific Conference on Korean Studies "Changing Central Asia and the new paradigm of Korean studies" on June 16-17, 2023 in Astana.

The conference is hosted by the Association of Korean Studies Professors in Central Asia and co-organized by the Korean Studies Center at Nazarbayev University, the Center for Korean Studies at Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages in Almaty with support from the Korea Foundation. 

The conference was held within the walls of Nazarbayev University, where more than 75 participants from 22 universities took part, not only from the countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Korea, but also from the universities of Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, which emphasizes the relevance and need for further work of this regional community. Moreover, the conference is marked by the 11th anniversary of the Association of Korean Studies Professors in Central Asia, which makes the event of special significance and uniqueness.

Jo Tae-ik, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Im Chol Woo, head of the Moscow office of KF, Ko Ho Yun, director of the Center for Korean Studies at Nazarbayev University and Sherikulova M.A., chairman of the Association, delivered a welcoming speech at the plenary session.

The work of the conference was divided into two sections, during which issues of training specialists in Korean studies, advanced training of lecturers of the Korean Studies, features of conducting lessons on Korean language and other Korean studies were discussed.

From al-Farabi KazNU the head of the department of Korean studies Pak T.N., professor, Men D.V., delegated from the Korea Foundation senior lecturer Jang Won Gi, senior teachers Serikbayeva Z.A., Abagan A.B., Kabdelova U.S., Sermukhametova B.B. and Sailaukenova A.E. were attended in the conference. Professor of the Department of the Far East, Men Dmitry and senior lecturer, PhD student Sermukhametova B.B., whose topics aroused great interest among the audience and active discussion.

The current conference is of great importance and uniqueness also in that as a result of discussion and voting of all participants, it was decided to hold the next 12th conference at Al-Farabi KazNU at the Faculty of Oriental Studies in the frames of the 30th anniversary of the Department of Korean Studies.