Seoul, 28 October 2026, The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Republic of Korea hosted a reception to mark Kazakhstan’s national holiday – Republic Day.
The event brought together more than 300 guests, including representatives of the Government and National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, international organizations, the diplomatic corps, Korean business and academic communities, and Kazakh citizens residing in the country.
H.E. Mr. Kim Jung-Kwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources of the Republic of Korea and Co-Chair of the Kazakhstan-Korea Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, attended as the Guest of Honour representing the Korean Government.
The official ceremony opened with performances of the national anthems by opera singers who are professors at Baekseok University and Seoul Cyber University. The performance of Kazakhstan’s national anthem by a Korean vocalist served as a powerful symbol of friendship and closer cultural ties between the two peoples.
Ambassador Asset Issenali spoke about the major milestones in Kazakhstan’s development, its achievements and its aspirations for the future. The Kazakh diplomat highlighted the key points of the Address to the People of Kazakhstan delivered by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that day. In this context, particular attention was paid to opportunities to expand engagement with Korean partners and exchange experience in promising areas.
Ambassador Issenali also outlined the outcomes of the Kazakh President’s state visit to the Republic of Korea in September 2026 and the agreements reached to further strengthen the bilateral partnership across various sectors.
A highlight of the official ceremony was the presentation of Kazakhstan’s state decoration, the Order of Dostyk, Second Class, to Minister Kim Jung-Kwan on behalf of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In his remarks, Minister expressed his gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan for the high honour and acknowledged the reforms underway in Kazakhstan. He also shared his views on prospects for cooperation in rare and critical metals, energy, industry, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital technologies and smart cities.
The cultural programme offered guests an opportunity to explore the traditions and heritage of the Kazakh people. A dedicated area featured the traditional games of togyzkumalak and asyk atu, while performances of Kazakh folk songs enriched the evening.
A symbolic feature of the reception was a robot dressed in traditional Kazakh attire that welcomed guests. Its participation highlighted the forward-looking nature of the Kazakhstan-Korea partnership and prospects for cooperation in artificial intelligence, robotics and modern technologies.
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed Kazakh cuisine and viewed videos showcasing Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan-Korea cooperation.
