On July 14, 2026, Almaty Management University welcomed the delegation of KT&G Scholarship Foundation and BBB Korea. The visit was dedicated to learning more about the activities of the KT&G Scholarship Foundation Korean Center at AlmaU, discussing the current status of the sponsorship project, and exploring further prospects for the Center’s development.
From AlmaU, the meeting was attended by Rector Timur Buldybayev and Vice-Rector for Global Partnerships Sholpan Tazabek. In his welcoming speech, the Rector noted that the opening of the KT&G Scholarship Foundation Korean Center in March 2025 was an important milestone for the university, and that the Center is the first and only KT&G Scholarship Foundation center in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. During its first year of operation, around 300 learners completed courses at the Center, while more than 60 AlmaU students studied Korean as part of the university’s academic programs.
Timur Buldybayev emphasized that AlmaU views its cooperation with KT&G Scholarship Foundation and BBB Korea not as a separate project, but as a long-term strategic partnership. According to him, the Center has already become not only a platform for learning the Korean language and culture, but also a space for building a community of young people interested in Korea, its modern achievements, innovations, business, and education.
During the meeting, Choie Meehee, Secretary General of BBB Korea, gave a presentation on the current status and future development model of the Almaty Korean Center. The presentation noted that July 2026 marks a new stage – the official transition of the Center’s operational support to BBB Korea. The main focus will be on developing the Center as a comprehensive cultural and educational platform that combines Korean language learning with a deeper understanding of Korean society and culture.
Special attention was given to the results of a study on interest in Korea among Almaty residents. According to the data presented by BBB Korea, 92.6% of respondents would like to learn more about Korea, 77.1% expressed willingness to communicate and exchange with Koreans, and 76% are interested in participating in programs in the Bostandyk district. At the same time, audience interest goes beyond language: the most in-demand areas included K-Trend, Korean language and education, art, traditional culture, history, and modern society.
BBB Korea also outlined three key directions for the Center’s further development: specialization and systematization of programs, localization through partnership with AlmaU, and sustainable talent development through educational opportunities, scholarships, internships, and career prospects.
After the official part of the meeting, the parties exchanged commemorative gifts. The delegation then took part in a campus tour of the university. In the AlmaU atrium, the guests were welcomed by the university mascot, Ashina, which became a warm and memorable moment of the visit.
The meeting confirmed the mutual interest of both parties in further developing the Korean Center at AlmaU as a platform for strengthening educational, cultural, and youth ties between Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea.