[PMI] Kazakhstan Alumni Bring Hospitality to PNU

Here stand the people who left the 9th largest country in the world and settled in the small port city of Busan. They are no other than the students who came to Pusan National University (PNU) from Kazakhstan. With hearts as vast as the expansive steppes of Kazakhstan, they live with the precious value of “hospitality” from their homeland, even at PNU, which is approximately 4,800km away from their home country. This value naturally permeates all activities of the Kazakhstan Alumni Association.

On August 12th, Channel PNU met with the Kazakhstan Alumni Association, the sixth protagonist in the “International Student Alumni Association Series.” This association secured first place with a high score in the “2025 PNU Alumni Association Subsidy Selection” organized by PNU International, thereby demonstrating its capabilities. To figure out the source of their sustained passion, we heard from Kim Diana (Dept. of Food and Nutrition, 22), Vice President of the Kazakhstan Alumni Association.

Q. Please introduce yourself and the alumni association.

A. Hello. I am Kim Diana, vice president of the PNU Kazakhstan Alumni Association. The Association has been holding informal gatherings for several years and was officially launched in the Fall Semester of 2024. As of July 2025, there are approximately 80 current student members, and a total of 162 members including graduates. The alumni association is led by eight executive members, comprising the  “Information Team” that assists current students with their life at PNU, the “SNS Management Team” that promotes the association, and the “Content Production Team” that creates content for association events. As a vice president, I work alongside the president to plan various events, facilitate cultural exchange within the alumni association, and serve to build bridges for communication with one another.

Q. The Kazakhstan Alumni Association ranked first in the “2025 PNU Alumni Association Subsidy Selection” of PNU International. What do you think are the unique strengths to your association?

A. First, we held various activities considering the safety and convenience of our members, such as traditional festivals like Nauryz, as well as hiking, cycling, and free Korean language classes. Additionally, we did not stop at simply holding events. After each activity, we carefully reviewed student feedback and incorporated it into future events.

Another strength is the systematic approach to alumni association management. Plans such as supporting international students from Kazakhstan and maintaining regular communication with students through social media are meticulously organized. We are deeply honored that these efforts were recognized, leading to a favorable outcome in the grant selection process.

Q. What kind of festival is “Nauryz,” the official event of the alumni association, and how did participants react when it was held?

A. “Nauryz” is a traditional Kazakh festival that marks the beginning of spring. Through this festival, Kazakhstan wishes for unity, peace, and hope for the coming year. When Nauryz is held, people make a traditional stew called “Nauryz Kozhe” and share it with their neighbors, visiting each other’s homes to share their feelings.

As it is an important holiday in Kazakhstan, it has been celebrated modestly every year even before the alumni association was established. And then in 2024, the Kazakhstan Alumni Association was established, so the festival was held in earnest. It was a meaningful occasion as the consul from the Kazakh consulate accepted our invitation. Additionally, about six to seven Korean students attended, creating a special opportunity for cultural exchange. The moment when all participants enjoyed Kazakh traditions, transcending cultural differences, still remains in my memory.

Q. It’s known that the Kazakhstan alumni association has conducted campus tours on its own. What prompted you to plan this tour?

A. There is an institution in Kazakhstan called “Hansan Korean Language Academy” that has a keen interest in studying in Korea. They contacted the alumni association and requested a tour of PNU's campus. We served as a liaison between the institution and PNU International to ensure that the program ran as planned.

We also tried to differentiate it from the campus tours conducted by PNU. We tried to make Kazakhstani exchange students participate in this tour and share information that is difficult to find online, such as their experiences studying abroad, study methods, and tips for daily life. Fortunately, the academy students said that they had an enjoyable and informative conversation with their seniors from the same country and lots of their questions about studying abroad at PNU were answered.

Q. Are there any other regular events held by the alumni association?

A. We offer free Korean language classes every Friday. Once members of the association apply for the classes, they take a level test and are divided into classes based on their scores. As of July 2025, there are 7-8 members for the TOPIK 1 class and 5-6 members for the TOPIK 2 class. In addition, we hold activities allowing members to get closer to each other, such as soccer games, movie screenings, snack events, bicycle and board game gatherings. 

Q. What values ​​do you think the Kazakhstan Alumni Association should uphold in the future?

A. I hope that the Kazakhstan Alumni Association will continue to uphold the value of “hospitality” in the years ahead, since it is a critical value in Kazakh culture. Hospitality is characterized by respecting and treating guests generously, no matter where or when. This value helps form strong bonds between students, allowing them to regard each other as a “second family.” Of course, in order for the alumni association to grow further, it is also necessary to strengthen cooperation with other alumni associations and make efforts to hold various events that are both fun and meaningful.

Reporter Thadar-Soe

Translated by Channel PNU