Korea Herald correspondent

ASTANA, Kazakhstan — In Kazakhstan’s capital, young leaders of Korean descent — known as Koryo saram — hopes to shape an identity at the intersection of heritage and modern citizenship. Their efforts are preserving Korean culture and developing Kazakhstan-Korea ties through community engagement.

Among them is Park Larisa Vladimirevna, a youth leader and acting head of the Youth Assembly Representation in Astana. Appointed just two months ago, Park is the leading advisor for youth interaction in the city. A Kazakh national with a Korean surname, she proudly identifies herself as Koryo saram — the descendants of Koreans deported to Central Asia during Stalin's rule in 1937.

“I’m a Koryo saram,” she told The Korea Herald when asked why she has a Korean surname.

Koryo saram are ethnic Koreans who migrated to the Russian Far East in the 19th century and were later forcibly relocated to Central Asia by the Soviet Union under Stalin. After the USSR's collapse, they became minorities in various independent states such as Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. While Kazakhstan calls them "Koryo saram," South Korea refers to them as "Koryoin," a term rooted more in Sino-Korean language.

Koryo saram adapted to life in different Soviet states, contributing to various fields. After early cultural loss, they revived their traditions post-Stalin and are now known in Kazakhstan for their accomplishments and resilient cultural identity.

“It has always felt like a family environment here (in Kazakhstan),” Park says, recollecting how her engagement with the community deepened after moving to Astana to attend university.

Park shares that she attends a local church to share Korean culture and connect with young Koreans and international friends, but notes that preserving Korean cultural identity is becoming increasingly difficult.

“Many elders in our community are aging, and the generational gap makes it harder to pass down our traditions,” she said.

“That’s why we’re investing in Korean Sunday Schools, where children learn the language, customs and values. Remarkably, these programs are fully funded by the Kazakh government,” she told The Korea Herald.

Through support from the assembly of the people of Kazakhstan, ethnic communities are granted office space, cultural centers and other institutional support, according to Park.

“This is all made possible thanks to the direct involvement of the president of Kazakhstan,” Park noted.

Asked how Kazakhs perceive Koryo saram, she said that they are seen as hardworking and well-integrated.

"I’ve never experienced discrimination in Kazakhstan, we grow up knowing that respect for other cultures is key to our peace.”

Park has visited South Korea once on a heritage program, but her experience was far from touristy.

“We stayed near the sea — perhaps Gangneung — and the air made it hard to dry our clothes!” she said smiling.

“But the immersion was beautiful,” Park remembers, hoping to launch a youth exchange program for Koryo saram.

“We’d love to host Korean youth in Astana and visit Korea in return — that’s how living bridges are built,” she told The Korea Herald.

Despite Koryo saram's strong historical ties to Korea, South Korea was initially slow to accommodate them, lacking supportive policies through the 1990s and early 2000s.

Only with the March 2007 introduction of the H-2 visa for overseas Koreans from China and six former Soviet countries -- Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikstan and Turkmenistan -- to work for five years in manufacturing, construction and agriculture, livestock and fisheries did Koryo saram migration to Korea increase.

With the support of the Alma-Ata Korean National Central Association (AKNC), 21 Koryo saram residing in Kazakhstan, most of whom were visiting Korea for the first time, participated in a homeland visit program from April 22 to 25.

According to the Overseas Koreans Agency (OKA), a Foreign Ministry-affiliated agency established in June 2023, the visitors shared that they had never forgotten their blood-based ties, and although it was their first time setting foot on Korean soil, it did not feel unfamiliar.

The agency supports Korean diasporic communities worldwide, promotes their economic activities and assists returning diaspora members with resettlement in Korea.

Over 860,000 overseas Koreans — including Koryoin — have returned to reside in Korea, according to the agency's data.

The agency acknowledges that despite many of them being naturalized, sufficient measures to support their settlement here have been lacking. South Korea’s restrictive visa options (mainly F-4 and H-2) have drawn criticism for limiting the rights and stability of Koryo saram working and living here.

In southern Kazakhstan, An Yelena, chair of the Korean Association in the Gizirotan Region, echoes Park’s sentiments.

Born in Kazakhstan, An began studying Korean in university in 2003 and now teaches it herself.

“Our language school runs twice a week, and we have about 70 students from beginner to advanced levels,” she said.

“We already engage with Koryo saram communities in places like Shimkent to share knowledge and support each other.”

"Most are Koryo saram, but others are simply fascinated by Korean culture," An says, acknowledging that learning Korean is very difficult for local learners due to grammar and pronunciation.

"However, their motivation remains strong," she says of Koryo saram, suggesting that scholarship programs or cultural exchanges with Korea will be invaluable.

Valikhan Bakhretdinov, a youth member of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, sees Koryo saram as essential for Kazakhstan's multicultural fabric.

“Koryo saram are ethnically Korean but proudly Kazakh citizens,” says Bakhretdinov.

“Across cities like Almaty, institutions like the Korean Theater stand as symbols of cultural endurance.”

Koryo saram are a "cultural and diplomatic bridge" between Korea and Kazakhstan, according to Bakhretdinov.

“Even though our countries are far apart geographically, the Koryo Saram connect us through shared values, history and mutual respect,” saidBakhretdinov.

He also welcomed the K-Silk Road Initiative, aligning Korea’s regional outreach with Central Asia’s historical and cultural legacy.

The initiative aims to enhance supply chain cooperation with resource-rich Central Asian countries and was the third regional strategy of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration, following the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative.

South Korea under the current administration has seen Kazakhstan as a key resource-rich partner in its K-Silk Road strategy and has sought to engage Koryo saram in Central Asia to play an active role.

“With strong Korean communities across the region, Korea can build a Central Asia-Korea bridge rooted in people-to-people ties,” said Bakhretdinov.