From Oriental Studies to Leadership: A Meeting with Students by Shamshidinova D.M., Director of «VCA» LLP

On November 28, 2025, a meeting was held at the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University with Shamshidinova D.M., Director of  «VCA» LLP and one of the first graduates of the Far East Department. She currently heads a company that has been supplying Korean food products to the Kazakhstan and CIS markets for over 20 years. The meeting was also attended by international students from the preparatory faculty, including those from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China, Mongolia, Turkey and other countries.

During the meeting, Shamshidinova D.M. gave a lecture on "The Role of Korean Culture and K-dramas in Shaping Kazakhstani Attitudes to Korean Food Products."

She discussed how the popularity of Korean culture influences consumer food preferences, which product categories are becoming most popular, and how the market is changing under the influence of the media. The guest paid special attention to the company's development experience: over 20 years, it has become a significant market player and contributed to the promotion of Korean gastronomic culture in Kazakhstan. Dina Muratovna shared with the students her personal professional experience, the specifics of running a business in the import sector, and the importance of intercultural communication.

Following the lecture, a tasting of popular Korean dishes and products took place, where the students were able to explore the range of modern Korean food products.

The event concluded with the presentation of 150 gift sets of Korean products to the students.

The Faculty of Oriental Studies expresses its gratitude to Dina Muratovna Shamshidinova for the informative lecture and inspiring meeting and looks forward to further collaboration for the students' professional growth.