Astana will celebrate Korean culture with a two-day festival on August 1–2 as part of events marking the first Republic of Korea–Central Asia Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Seoul in September 2026.
Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Kazakhstan, the festival aims to strengthen cultural ties between the two countries and introduce visitors to both traditional and modern aspects of Korean culture, DKNews.kz reports.
What is on the program
The two-day celebration will feature several major events:
- Kimchi Festival on August 1;
- K-Fest on August 1;
- K-Marathon on August 2.
The Kimchi Festival and K-Marathon are organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, while K-Fest is hosted by the Association of Koreans of Astana.
What visitors can expect
The Central Park will feature themed pavilions showcasing Korean culture and lifestyle.
Guests will enjoy:
- K-POP performances;
- traditional Korean cultural experiences;
- Korean cuisine;
- information about studying in Korea;
- tourism presentations;
- interactive activities and cultural workshops.
Free admission
Admission to most events will be free of charge.
Only selected K-Fest programs will require paid participation.
Detailed schedules will be published on the official Instagram pages of each event.
- Kimchi Festival (koreanembassy_kz)
- K-Marathon (koreanembassy_kz)
- K-Fest (korean_ethno_astana)
Why it matters
The first Republic of Korea–Central Asia Summit marks a new chapter in cooperation between South Korea and the five Central Asian countries.
The cultural festival in Astana is expected to raise public awareness of the upcoming summit while promoting people-to-people exchanges and strengthening friendship between Kazakhstan and the Republic of Korea.
