On December 13, an MOU was signed with the Kazakh State Gumilyov University for the Peoples. In the presence of Vice-President for Science Zhanna Kurmangaliev, Vice-President for External Cooperation Yermak Komakbaev, and Dean of the Department of Regional Studies Aigerim Ospanova, who were visiting Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, an agreement was reached on academic exchanges and joint academic research, as well as exchanges between scholars between the Russian Institute and Gumilyov University. At the event, Vice-President for Science Zhanna Kurmangaliev of Gumilyov University emphasized that there are many students who want to study Korean studies in Kazakhstan, and that she hopes to actively promote student exchanges between schools, especially for the purpose of studying the Korean language.

This MOU signing with Gumilyov University is the result of an MOU agreement reached last month by Professor Kim Seon-rae of the HK+ division of the Russian Institute, who visited the Gumilyov State University for Nationalities in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, for on-site research in Central Asia, and the agreement with the Department of Regional Studies of Gumilyov University. As a representative Russian regional think tank in Korea, the Russian Institute is also interested in research on the geopolitical relations between Russia and neighboring countries. In the future, for research on the Central Asian region, it plans to cooperate in academic exchanges with the Gumilyov State University for Nationalities in Kazakhstan, as well as sign an academic exchange agreement with the Uzbek University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Director Pyo Sang-yong of the Russian Institute emphasized, “The importance of Central Asia as a passageway to Russia and Eurasia has become even more important since the Ukrainian War, and interest in Central Asia has become even more important for understanding Eurasia.”