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Since April 2026, the Department of Far Eastern Studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies has been implementing an educational project titled “A Master Class on Literary Translation for Foreign Universities” with the support of the Literature Translation Institute of Korea. Within the framework of the project, undergraduate and graduate students of Korean Studies are translating into Kazakh the well-known work “The Shaman Girl” by Kim Dong-ni.

On April 30, 2026, an online lecture-meeting was held as part of this project with Professor Park Gyu-jun from Daegu University (Republic of Korea). During the lecture, the professor presented a literary and cultural analysis of Kim Dong-ni’s work “The Shaman Girl” and shared his scholarly insights. As a specialist in literary studies, he also explained the context in which the work was written and provided an in-depth analysis.

The online seminar brought together students of Korean Studies and learners of the Korean language from three universities: 91��ý Kazakh National University, Abylai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages, and Suleyman Demirel University.

The students showed great interest in the artistic features of the work and the challenges of translating it into Kazakh, actively asking questions. The meeting contributed significantly to a deeper understanding of the text, the development of linguistic and cultural competencies, as well as practical skills in literary translation.

These master classes are an important part of the educational and research activities of the Department of Far Eastern Studies and contribute to strengthening academic and cultural ties between Korea and Kazakhstan. The project has also increased students’ interest in Korean literature and provided opportunities to establish direct communication with representatives of the academic community of the Republic of Korea.

The experience gained through the project represents an important step in training highly qualified specialists in Korean studies and literary translation. The department plans to continue this initiative by expanding international cooperation and creating new opportunities for students.