Source: 카자흐스탄 "AI·디지털화폐 실험 도시 세운다"…한국서 첫 투자행사

Kazakhstan held its first international roadshow for the Alatau City Project, an ambitious national plan to build a futuristic “testbed city” for emerging technologies, in Seoul on October 15–16. The event, titled “Alatau Rise With Kazakhstan,” introduced the project’s vision to create a next-generation smart city comparable to Singapore or Shenzhen, integrating AI, mobility, and digital finance.

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek described Alatau as a “city where all technologies can be tested and verified,” highlighting Kazakhstan’s stability as a neutral nation often called “the Switzerland of Asia.” National project advisor Wong Heang Fine added that Alatau would enable experiments in air and ground transportation, communications, and even digital currencies, making it a global innovation laboratory.

Vice Minister Dmitriy Mun explained that Korea was chosen for the first roadshow because of its world-class expertise in smart city infrastructure and advanced technology. Caspian Group Chairman Tskhay Yuriy, who leads the development, emphasized the historic bond between the two nations and the key role of the Koryo-saram community, including Alatau City Bank shareholder & Kaspi.kz Chairman Kim Vyacheslav, one of Kazakhstan’s top six billionaires.

Covering 880 km² - 1.14 times the size of Busan - Alatau City will be developed north of Almaty by 2048. The first phase, costing ₩25 trillion, will create specialized zones for industry, finance, tourism, and education. A “K-Park,” funded privately by the Koryo-saram community, is also planned for completion by 2027 to mark the 90th anniversary of their deportation, symbolizing Korea–Kazakhstan cultural ties.