Source: "중앙亞 최대 한류공원에 고려인 역사 담을 것" - 매일경제

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Nurgali Arystanov, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Korea,

Groundbreaking Ceremony for K-Culture and Food Complex in Smart New City ‘Alatau’

An Opportunity to Showcase Korea’s Soft Power

Kazakhstan Will Be the Best Partner

“We want to create K-Park in the new smart city-bringing together Korean restaurants, shops, and all things Hallyu-to promote cultural, tourism, and economic cooperation between Korea and Kazakhstan,” said Nurgali Arystanov, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Korea, in an exclusive interview with Maeil Business Newspaper on the 22nd. He introduced the Alatau City Project, the largest smart city initiative underway in Central Asia, and explained the vision behind K-Park.
K-Park will be built on a 10-hectare (about 32,500 pyeong) site inside Alatau City, which is being developed with a state investment of 25 trillion won as the largest smart new city in Central Asia. A groundbreaking ceremony for K-Park was held locally on the 12^th September.
According to Ambassador Arystanov, K-Park will not only showcase the strengths of Korea’s soft power but also highlight the history of the Koryo-saram (ethnic Koreans in Kazakhstan).

“The ‘K’ can stand for Kazakhstan, or for the Koryo-saram living here. We plan to build a museum and experience center honoring their history and culture,” he said, adding that “In Kazakhstan, anything with a ‘K’-from food and cosmetics to dramas-is hugely popular.”

Alatau City, where K-Park will be located, is Kazakhstan’s largest smart city project, launched in 2023 to transform the nation’s resource-export-driven economy into one centered on high-tech industries. Covering 880㎢-larger than Busan’s 771㎢-the city is designed as a comprehensive smart hub encompassing finance, industry, logistics, tourism, education, culture, and leisure.

“Our goal is to build an advanced smart city in Alatau, not far from Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city and economic-cultural hub,” said Ambassador Arystanov. “We are working with global partners to create a new mega city, and with so many Korean companies already active in Kazakhstan, Korea naturally becomes the best partner.”

Last year, Korea invested about USD 1.2 billion (₩1.67 trillion) in Kazakhstan, making it the country’s third-largest investor after Russia and the Netherlands. Currently, 876 Korean-invested companies are operating in Kazakhstan.