Source: 비극 딛고 일어난 고려인…카자흐 땅 'K-파크'서 미래 주역으로

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Nearly 90 years after ethnic Koreans were forcibly relocated to Central Asia, their descendants are building a new landmark in Kazakhstan’s future industries. On September 12, the groundbreaking ceremony for K-Park, a Korean cultural and business complex, was held in Alatau, Almaty’s new satellite city.

K-Park will occupy 10 hectares within the Alatau Smart City project, featuring a memorial and experience center on Koryo-saram history, alongside hubs for K-culture, K-food, and business. The site is designed not only as a cultural landmark but also as a base for economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Korea.

The project is led by Yuriy Tskhay (77), Chairman of Caspian Group and head of the Association of Koreans of Kazakhstan. Often dubbed the “Chung Ju-yung of Central Asia,” Tskhay has grown Caspian into one of Kazakhstan’s top companies since 1992.

“Through K-Park, we can show how Koreans succeeded in Kazakhstan,” Tskhay said. “There is no place like this anywhere else in the world, and it will attract visitors from across the globe.”

The ceremony, attended by 300 guests, looked back at the community’s tragic past, with elders moved to tears as a video on the 1937 relocation played. A foundation stone engraved with the words “Gratitude, Memory, Legacy” was laid to symbolize remembrance and future vision. Completion of the first phase is set for September 2027, the 90th anniversary of the relocation.

Alatau: Toward a “Singapore of Central Asia”

K-Park is part of the Alatau City project, Kazakhstan’s largest new city initiative backed by $18 billion in state investment. Covering 880 km², larger than Busan, the smart city aims to house 1.9 million people and create 1.1 million jobs, with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev vowing to make it the “Singapore of Central Asia.”

Caspian Group and other Koryoin companies are key partners, helping to attract advanced industries including urban air mobility, hydrogen energy, and battery recycling. Next month, Caspian will co-host the “Alatau RISE” international roadshow in Seoul with Kazakhstan’s Investment Agency to explore cooperation with Korean firms.

Almaty Governor Marat Sultangaziyev welcomed the initiative, saying: “With Alatau now granted legal status, we will actively provide incentives for investors. K-Park will set a new cultural standard and become a space for citizens to enjoy modern leisure.”