On February 25, 2025, the Institute of Russian Studies (Director: Prof. Sang-Yong Pyo, Department of Russian) and the HK+ Research Project held a domestic academic conference as part of the Humanities Korea Project’s ongoing scholarly activities. This conference represented the third year of the second stage of the HK+ research agenda, 'Reinterpreting the Russian Humanistic Space: Russia in the World, the World in Russia.'

The first session opened with HK Research Professor Sun-Rae Kim, who presented on 'Russia’s Post-Soviet Near Abroad Policy and the Geopolitical Perceptions of the Three Caucasus States.' His analysis highlighted the strategies these states adopted in response to Russia’s assertive policies in the Caucasus and offered insights into resolving the region’s security instability.

Following this, Research Professor Hyun-Jin Kim delivered a presentation titled 'Digital Authoritarianism and the Russkiy Mir: Comparing Digital Censorship Policies in Kazakhstan and Belarus.' She demonstrated how Russia is exporting its model of digital authoritarianism to post-Soviet states through comparative analysis of censorship mechanisms in the two countries.

Next, HK Research Professor Mi-Ra Jeon spoke on 'Voices of the Enemy: Narrative Strategies of Russia’s Foreign Media Policy through the InoSMI Website.' She argued that InoSMI, which translates and republishes selected foreign media articles into Russian, does not seek transformation as a media outlet but rather produces narrative discourses for readers sympathetic to its vision of a 'Russian world.'

In the second session, HK Research Professor Seung-Do Ra presented on 'The Cultural Politics of Commemoration: Pushkin Worship and the Ideology of the Russkiy Mir in the Putin Era.' Reflecting on approximately 25 years of commemorations of the great Russian poet during the Putin era, he placed particular emphasis on the nationwide and international celebrations of Pushkin’s 225th anniversary in 2024, held in conjunction with 'Russian Language Day,' and their broader implications.

Finally, HK Research Professor Hye-Jin Kim delivered a presentation titled 'The Formation and Development of the Koryoin Community in Pyeongtaek Poseung-eup.' She examined the background and characteristics of this relatively new Koryoin settlement, noting how the number of ethnic Koreans from the former Soviet Union has increased in South Korea since the dissolution of the USSR, leading to the establishment of such communities across the country.