STRATEGIES FOR PRESERVING THE CULTURAL VALUES OF KOREANS IN KAZAKHSTAN: BETWEEN TRADITION AND INNOVATION

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 2, 204 - 222, 30.04.2025

Natalya Yem Viktoriya Kim Aigerim Belyalova

Abstract

The contemporary generation of ethnic Koreans in Kazakhstan demonstrates a strong sense of ethnic self-identification, with cultural continuity serving as a central component of this identity. Core elements sustaining this identity include the preservation of language, family and domestic rituals, and the celebration of ethnic holidays. This article examines strategic approaches to the preservation of cultural values among Koreans in Kazakhstan, emphasizing the intergenerational transmission of traditions as a foundational mechanism. A notable dimension of this process is the increasing cultural influence of the Republic of Korea, which functions as a symbolic homeland. However, this influence also introduces tensions, as contemporary South Korean cultural forms may obscure or displace the traditional practices developed by deported Koreans since the 1930s. By drawing on academic literature, narrative interviews, and oral histories, this study seeks to identify effective and contextually grounded strategies for sustaining the distinct ethnocultural identity of the Korean diaspora in Kazakhstan.

Keywords

Koreans in Kazakhstan, Koryo saram, everyday multiculturalism, Acculturation, Integration.

Ethical Statement

This study involving human participants has completed and fulfilled the ethical guidelines requirements. The participants provided written informed consent before taking part in the study and were informed about its objectives.

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