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German Kim.
The Labor activities of Koreans in Kazakhstan.
Today, for every 1000 Koreans of fully employable age in the Republic, 252 have a higher education, and 113 have a secondary education. During the 60 years of their life in Kazakstan, the number of Koreans that are employed in political, scholarly, educational, and medical professions has grown exponentially as has the number of engineers, economists, lawyers, cultural workers, and other professional specialists.
Koreans are proud that from the moment that the state started to elect deputies to serve in the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakstan SSR, one of the first people to be elected was Pak Aleksei Andreevich who served in that capacity in 1950 and 1955 and who also was appointed a vice-chairman of the Tselinskii region department of Sovkhozes and a member of the agricultural commission of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakstan SSR.
Kim Ella Ivanova from the game state farm "Ushtobinsk" in the karatal'skii region of the Taldi-Kurgan oblast' was also a deputy to the Supreme Soviet of the Kazak SSR from 1985 to 1989. Kim Il'ia Lukich was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazak SSR for four different sessions between 1958 and 1970. Likewise, Kim Nikolai Nikolaevich, who was also a recipient of the "State Prize" of the USSR was a deputy of the Supreme of Soviet of the Kazak SSR in 1990 where he worked as the vice-representative of the committee on industry, transport, and communications. Other Koreans who have served as representatives in high governmental posts include Kim Nikolai Ivanovich (1985), Kim Roza (1970), Kim Iurii Alekseevich (1993), Li Ten Khan (1975), Rem Gen Cher (1970), Tian Ol'ga (1955), Khvan Nikolai Grigor'evich (1963), Khegai Kseniia (1963), Shin Vera Vasil'evna (1970), and Chzhen Moisei Alekseevich (1980, 1985, and 1990). In recent years, the Korean director of of an Almaty middle school, Sher Raisa Petrovna, was elected to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakstan in 1995.
Over the years, Koreans also served as the heads of various ministries and the supervisors of large-scale industrial enterprises that now fall under the guidance of the apparatus of the President of the Republic of Kazakstan. Of special mention among these government workers are Kim Il'ia Lukich, a Doctor of economics, professor, and minister of finances who has been honored with the "Order of Lenin" among other state medals and Kim Georgii Vladimirovich who has served as the head of the Committee on National Politics.
In recent years, Korean representatives in the ministries have included: Kan Viktor Petrovich for the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the professor of economics Kim Afanasii Grigor'evich for the Ministry of Youth, Tourism, and Sports; Kim Ivan Vasil'evich for the Ministry of Local Industry; Kim Iurii Alekseevich for the Ministry of Justice; Pak Gennadii Nikolaevich for the Ministry of Bread Production; Khvan Vladimir Ivanovich for the Ministry of Meat and Dairy Products; Khegai Aleksei Iur'evich for the Ministry of Roads and Highways; and Ni Vladimir Vasil'evich for the Ministry of the Management of the Affairs of the President.
A few Koreans have even been promoted to the prestigious position of General. Tskhai Boris Alekseevich was named a General-Mayor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Khegai Arkadii Iur'evich was named a General-Mayor of Justice as a State Aid to Justice of the 3rd Class.
Likewise, there have been many talented and highly qualified specialists and supervisors of construction, engineering, and industry among the Koreans of Kazakstan. However, one of the most impressive parts of the Korean community remains its scholarly and creative intelligentsia. Today, about 400 Korean Candidates and Doctors of Science work in the Republic's universities, institutes, and other institutions of higher learning and research. This group, which is a source of great pride for Kazakstan's Korean diaspora, has made great strides in helping to develop the level of science and technology in the Republic.
The pride of the Korean scholarly community is Ni Leonid Pavlovich, a Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, and Academic of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakstan. For years, he worked as the director of the Institute of Metalurgy and Enrichment under the Academy of Sciences. He has also been honored with the "State Prize" of the USSR for his contributions to science and technology, with the rank of "A Distinguished Member of the Academy of Science," and with many other awards.
However, there have been many more distinguished Korean scholars in Kazakstan over the years. Doctor and Professor of Physics and Mathematics Kim Engvan Insugovich has been honored as a "Correspondent Member of the Academy of Sciences" and as a "Distiguished Scientist" for his work as the Director of the Department of High Mathematics at Kazakstan State University and for his contribution as the supervisor of the laboratory of the Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics under the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazkastan.
Doctor and Professor of Geology Li Vitalii Gavrilovich received the "State Prize" of the USSR for his 20 years of service as Vice-Director of the Institute of Geology of the Academy of Sciences and for his achievements in geological research.
Doctor and Professor of Agricultural Sciences Pak David Nikolaevich was also awarded the "State Prize" of the USSR and was given the rank of "A Distinguished Member of the Academy of Science" for his over 20 years of service as the Director of the Department of Selection and Breeding of Milk-Producing Livestock at the Kazakhstan Institute of Livestock.
Doctor and Professor of Agricultural Sciences Tsoi Lavrentii Ivanovich was awarded the "State Prize" of the USSR in 1970 and given the rank of a "Distinguished Zoologist" for his work directing the Department of Sheep-Herding at the Alma-Ata Institute of Zoology and Veterinary Sciences.
The Doctor and Professor of Economics Li Vitor Loikovich, whose scholarly career started at the Alma-Ata Institute of Public Economics after years as a farmer and teacher, now is the Rector of the Karaganda Cooperative Institute.
Today, over 40 Doctors and Professors work in the universities and institutes of the Republic of Kazakstan. Among them are: Khan Georgii Vasil'evich (history), Kvon Sergei Syn-Guvich (mining), Kim German Nikolaevitch, Kim Orumbet Mefod'evich (medecine), Kim Oleg Gavrilovich (philosophy), Li Nikolai Nikolaevich (economics), Li Vladimir Aleksandrovich (physics and mathematics), Ligai Marina Alekseevna (medecine), Pak Alla Mikhailovna (chemistry), Pak Semen Mikhailovich (biology), Pak Ivan Timofeevich (technology), Pak Marat Aleksandrovich (physics and mathematics), Pak Sergei Pavlovich (technology), Ogai Elena Aleksandrovna (medecine), Ten Anna Nikolaevna (philosophy), Khan Gurii Borisovich (philosophy), Khan Oktiabr' Aleksandrovich (metalurgy), Khvan Mikhail Vasil'evich (biology), Tsoi Gilen Vasil'evich (medecine), Tsoi Viktor Samenovich (mining), Tskhai Sergei Mefod'evich (technology), Shim Pavel Semenovich (economics), and several others.
Other important Korean scholars who had in the past accomplished much in their careers at the Academy of Sciences of the USSR include: Academic Kim Maksim Pavlovich (history), Kim Georgii Fedorovich (history), Kim Syn Khva (history), Li Vladimir Fedorovich (history), Ni Aleksandr Leonidovich (physics an mathematics), Tsoi Iurii Alekseevich (technology), Iugai Gerasim Andreevich (philosophy) and others.
The successes of Koreans in Sports are also well known. In the 1970s and 80s, the well known gymnast Kim Nelli was a regular on award podiums at the Olympic Games as well as at the World, European, and Kazakhstan Championships. The present president of the Association of Koreans of Kazakstan, Tskhai Iurii Andreevich, was a Distinguished boxing trainer who made important contributions to the development of boxing in the USSR and Kazakhstan. Under his wing, an entire generation of talented boxers were trained who went on to become Olympic Winner, European, Kazakhstan, and Soviet Champions.
As the apprentice of one of the most Distinguished trainers in the USSR, Khvan Maia Undenovich became a world champion and a world record holder in speed-skating. One must also mention the great contribution to Soviet soccer that was made by the senior coach of the Ust-Kamenogorsk team "Vostok," the Tselinograd team "Tselennik," and the Alma-Ata team "Kairat" Chen Ir Son (Chen Andrei).
Among the Koreans of Kazakstan, there have also been a number of talented contractors and architects. Several of the works of Korean contractors received commendations. Kim Vladimir, for example, was awarded the "State Prize" of the USSR for his work in constructing the Republic Palace in Kazakhstan's capital city of Alma-Ata.
The great successes of the Korean diaspora must be attributed to the genetic and cultural legacy of their people which has served to promote such qualities as the love of work, persistence, and the pursuit of knowledge. However, one must also note the importance of the gains Koreans have made through their friendship with Kazaks and the other peoples of multi-national Kazakhstan to the development of Korean culture in the Republic.
Prof. Dr. Kim German Nikolaevitch, Head of the Department of Korean Studies Faculty of Oriental Studies Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi. Phone/fax: 3272-621345, e-mail: ger_art@astel.kz; kazgugnk@yahoo.com