Since the Koryo-Saram diaspora of the early decades of the 20th century, there has been a significant ethnic Korean community in Kazakhstan, and although estimates vary, there are said to be over 110,000, with the largest numbers resident in and around Almaty.
The mass relocation of the late 1930s led many thousands from the far East of Russia to Central Asia, and after early struggles, they adapted to their new environment and regained their previous standards of living.
Their resilient communities muscled through hard times and soon became a much-respected part of Kazakhstan, with many ethnic Koreans, such as the late and sorely missed Denis Ten, adding to the pride that 20 million people have in their country.
Culturally, Koreans are valued contributors to society, and with the worldwide increase in interest in their music, arts, and cuisine, there has also been renewed enthusiasm locally for all things Korea, with even the language taking root. There are hundreds currently taking organised courses or studying online.
According to Qazinform, the King Sejong Institute at Akhmet Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University will now administer official Korean language examinations, which means that residents of the country will be able to gain this qualification without travelling to Korea.
Kostanay is a northern Kazakh city and, after an announcement from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, now boasts the first national official testing centre for the Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA), one of only five new affiliated hubs outside South Korea itself. The other countries chosen after a rigorous process were Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, and Iran.
SKA may be required for entry to a Korean university, an increasingly popular choice among Kazakhstan citizens, but the new centre will also make a contribution to enriched cultural ties between the two countries.
The test is conducted across four skills, speaking, listening, reading, and writing, and tests are tailored to four different levels, from Beginner to Advanced. It can be done on paper or over the Internet, but attendance at the King Sejong Institute in Kostanay will be essential for those non-native speakers who need to prove their ability to gain entry to a university in Korea itself, or in some cases to obtain a scholarship to do so.
Those interested in taking this exam in Kostanay should note that it is not available on an ongoing basis, as with IELTS; rather, it will be held on set dates in early September, specifically 5 September, when candidates will sit the listening, reading, and writing tests. Speaking assessment will take place between 6 & 12 September, results then available in early November.
