The 8th Central Asia Sungkyun Writing Contest successfully held
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- 2016-12-19
“When I was a child, I promised myself not to live like my parents. Now, my goal is to have a life similar to my parents who have devoted themselves for the family. Things I wanted to be differed became a common dream.” This is the writing of Tyo Yelena (20) who are attending senior year at Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages at ‘The 8th Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest in Central Asia’. Under the subject of the writing contest ‘Difference’, she wrote about change of her minds towards their parents’ views of life. “I blamed my parents who couldn’t afford things like pretty dresses, computer, and cell phone as like other friends have. After I grew up, I am no more envy other people.” said Yelena.
What made turning her mind was her father who worked many things to overcome poverty but fell by heart disease. Yelena flashed back the situation as “It was heart breaking to see that my dad went back to work straight after recovery, without having time to rest” and she finished her writing by saying “I will study hard and make a happy family.”
At ‘The 8th Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest in Central Asia’ hosted by Sungkyunkwan University, around 36 students from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan participated, and Yelena received the gold prize. Even though she received the gold prize, she hesitated to call their parents because she worried her father who has a weak heart. The advising professor of Yelena said “Yelena is a thoughtful student who worries about the health and the future of her parents. I would like to thank her parents who have raised her to a bright and heartwarming person.”
Yelena first learned Korean after falling in love with Korean dramas and music as well as global companies like Samsung and LG. “I want to work for expanding exchanges between Korea and Kazakhstan from studying international relationships or business administration at SKKU graduate school” said Yelena at the award ceremony.
The silver prize went to Usmanova Zamira (21) from Kazakh National University. In her writing, she claims that “Happiness comes from direction, not place. Happiness and misfortune are depending on how you think about it. People can live more happily if they admit the each person has different direction.” Meanwhile, Beishenbekova Aizhan (18) of Kyrgyz-Korean College wrote “Even a person was born in the same country or has same name with others, they are different people. My name is Aizhan which is very common name but I am the only one person in the world” and she received the bronze prize.
There was a special prize awardee as well. Mukhametkan Saltanat of Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages wrote about difference between generations. He said “There are some emotional difficulties to understand each other because my parents had lived in the generation of socialism but my generation is democracy. Even though we have differences, my parents said our generation has big blessings where we can earn from making efforts.”
SKKU holds Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest every year in various areas like China, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and East Europe with the aim to expand Korean culture and cultivate students who can take parts on exchanges of Korea and the other countries. Hong Duk KIM, SKKU alumni and CEO of Ierae CS supports the event financially every year while Shinhan Card and Shinhan Finance gave supports as well.
SKKU provide full scholarship for graduate programs to awardees of the event. Aidarova Aigerim who had the gold prize at ‘The 4th Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest in Central Asia’ received her degree at SKKU Graduate School of Political Science and Diplomacy and now working as a diplomat for Kazakhstani government.
Ho Jong JANG, a professor at Kazakh University of International Relations and World Languages, mentioned “Sungkyun Korean Writing Contest is the biggest Korean competition in Central Asia. This event also provides opportunity to meet students and Korean corporations which helps companies’ overseas business.
"Students are improving Korean with detailed expressions. Some students attended the event receive love calls from Korean companies entering into local business” said Professor Seok-kyu LEE, head of international affairs at Sungkyunkwan University.