[INTERVIEW] Korean is one of the 'most popular foreign languages in Kazakhstan': professor

Jang Ho-jong, a professor of Korean language at Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages, speaks during the 2022 Korea Foundation (KF) Global Korean Studies Forum at the Westin Josun Seoul hotel, Aug. 4. Courtesy of the KF

Korean language professor in Almaty stresses significance of nurturing Korea-friendly scholars in Central Asia

By Dong Sun-hwa

Many Korean nationals feel emotionally distant from Central Asian countries. Kazakhstan, for instance, is about 5,000 kilometers away from Korea, but most Korean nationals are unfamiliar with the culture of the country, whereas they know more about the U.S. and France, which are almost twice as far away.

When Jang Ho-jong first set foot into Almaty ― the largest city in Kazakhstan ― in 2009 to teach Korean to Kazakhstani students, he, too, had no clues about the place that he was going to settle in. Prior to joining Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages as a professor of Korean language, he had worked at Novosibirsk State University in Russia.

"Numerous Koreans still mistake Uzbekistan for Ukraine, and they find it hard to distinguish Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan," Jang told The Korea Times in a recent Zoom interview. "They do know something about Koryoin ― the descendants of ethnic Koreans who migrated to the former Soviet Union region between 1860 and Aug. 15, 1945 when Korea was liberated from Japan's imperial rule ― and Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent. But I want to emphasize that there is much more to explore about Central Asian countries."

They are crucial partners for Korea in terms of politics and the economy, according to Jang.

"Kazakhstan, in particular, gave up nuclear weapons in 1995 to center on developing its economy. So it may be able to share its experience with us in addressing a host of key issues like the denuclearization of North Korea," he said.

The country's efforts to achieve economic growth have come to fruition as well. Today, its economy is the largest in Central Asia, with its GDP per capita standing at $10,693.5 in 2021, according to the World Bank.

"Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are rich in natural resources, too," Jang pointed out. "Given that the weaponization of resources is one of the major issues these days, forming amicable relationships with Central Asian countries can help the Korean economy."

Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages in Almaty, Kazakhstan / Screenshot from Facebook

In Central Asia, the number of students hoping to learn the language and culture of Korea has been steadily increasing over the past few years.

"Along with English and Chinese, Korean is one of the three most popular foreign languages in Kazakhstan these days," he explained. "In the case of our school, some 400 students are learning Korean right now. When the Korean language major was first launched 20 years ago, there were only three to four students, but the number has recently soared thanks to the global ascent of Korean culture, such as K-pop."

According to Jang, 15 to 20 universities in Kazakhstan currently offer Korean language courses. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan also have a similar number of such schools, whereas Tajikistan and Turkmenistan ― which do not readily issue visas to foreign nationals ― only have one to two schools that teach Korean each.

"The demand for a Korean course has been constantly growing, but the supply is not meeting it largely because the wages for teachers are not high in the regions that were previously part of the Soviet Union," Jang said. "Many Central Asian countries have attempted to raise wages, but the average monthly salary for a newly employed college instructor is only about $100-400 in many countries."

This situation has naturally led to a lack of teachers and an overload of work, Jang added.

Professor Jang Ho-jong, second from right, speaks during the 2022 Korea Foundation (KF) Global Korean Studies Forum at the Westin Josun Seoul hotel, Aug. 4. Courtesy of KF

"So we do need some support from Korea," Jang revealed. "But it is important for the Korean government and companies to be selective, lending their limited support to the organizations that are truly willing to provide quality education to their students. Many colleges are eager to establish Korean language courses today, but as of now, there are not enough jobs for those who major in Korean language. So I believe we should first focus on supporting a few qualified colleges and students rather than trying to help everyone."

Jang also pointed out that as of now, most students in Central Asia are centering on learning Korean language instead of scrutinizing diverse aspects of the country such as its politics, economy and culture.

"There are no experts here who can explain the hallyu ― or the Korean Wave ― phenomenon," he said. "Most scholars majored in Chinese or Japanese studies, so when it comes to international issues, they tend to analyze things from the perspectives of these countries. That is why I think we need more scholars who can help amplify Korea's voice on the international stage."

Jang added, "A lot of Central Asian people have a deep interest in Korea and are willing to delve deeper into our country. In the future, I hope local scholars have a stronger voice than a Korean instructor or a professor, so that they can lead the area of Korean studies in their countries."