KOREAN LANGUAGE EDUCATION AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (KFL) IN KAZAKHSTAN: CURRENT STATUS AND CHALLENGES

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the current status and future directions of Korean language education as a second foreign language in Kazakhstan. Amidst the strengthening of diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the Republic of Korea and Kazakhstan, Korean language education has experienced significant quantitative growth, evolving from a research-oriented academic discipline into a widely offered general elective and second foreign language across various higher education institutions. Through an empirical analysis of nine representative universities, including SDU University, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University, Satbayev University (Kazakh National Research Technical University), International Taraz Innovative University, M.Kh. Dulaty Taraz Regional University, IT University, Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU), Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University and Almaty Management University (AlmaU), this research identifies several critical challenges such as a fragile institutional foundation, high dependency on dispatched faculty, and a shortage of localized physical instructional materials.

To facilitate a strategic transition from quantitative expansion to qualitative maturity, this study suggests several key policy directions. First, it emphasizes the necessity of securing and professionalizing local full-time faculty through specialized training programs like the «K-Teacher» initiative. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of establishing stable supply chains for physical textbooks and supporting the localization of curricula to reflect the unique cultural and linguistic characteristics of Kazakhstan. Finally, the study proposes the promotion of academic-industrial linkages to enhance the social utility and career-related efficacy of Korean language learning. While limited by its scope, this research provides a foundational framework for building a sustainable and professional KFL (Korean as a Foreign Language) ecosystem in Kazakhstan.

Keywords: Korean as a Foreign Language (KFL), Kazakhstan Higher Education, Teacher Professionalization, Curriculum Localization, Educational Infrastructure, Academic-Industrial Linkages, Qualitative Growth.