SEOUL, April 10 (AJP) - The second Kurultai of Kazakhs in Asia was held in South Korea from Apr. 5 to 6, drawing over 200 participants from ethnic Kazakh communities in Korea, Malaysia, Japan, China, and Mongolia, the Embassy of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Korea said Wednesday.
A Kurultai is a traditional assembly rooted in Turkic and Mongol cultures, historically convened to discuss important political, social, or cultural matters. In the modern context, the Kurultai serves as a platform for uniting the global Kazakh diaspora and preserving cultural heritage while promoting dialogue and cooperation.
Organized by the Kazakhstan Embassy in Seoul, the Otandastar Foundation, and the Qazaq Nomad Kazakh Association, the event was hosted at the Global Campus of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the event aimed to reinforce cultural bonds and expand economic collaboration between Kazakhstan and Asian countries.
The assembly featured a range of cultural and economic programs. Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Nurgali Arystanov noted the expanding partnership between the two nations, citing South Korea as Kazakhstan’s third-largest investor in 2024, with $1.2 billion in investments and 876 Korean-funded companies operating in the country.
Ambassador Arystanov also highlighted deepening people-to-people exchanges, including 13 weekly direct flights, 40,180 Korean tourists visiting Kazakhstan in 2024 -- up 12 percent from the previous year -- and 53,224 Kazakhs traveling to South Korea, an 8 percent year-on-year rise.
The first day featured a cultural and economic conference, including presentations on traditional Kazakh jewelry and cuisine, and a performance by singer Zhubanysh Zheksenuly.
The day also included South Korea’s first Kazakh-language public speaking contest. Seven students from Hankuk University's Department of Central Asian Studies competed, with sophomore Lee Seo-yeon winning first prize -- a round-trip ticket to Kazakhstan and hotel stay.
On April 6, the second day of the Kurultai, participants celebrated Nauryz, the Kazakh New Year, with folk music, dance, and displays of traditional attire and cuisine.
The event provided a dynamic platform for cultural exchange and affirmed Kazakhstan’s commitment to strengthening ties with its diaspora communities and regional partners in Asia.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
View more comments