Sofia Akmatalieva, born in 2002 to a simple baker in the Sokuluk district, is currently pursuing her education in South Korea. "My educational journey began in 2009 when I entered the first grade at secondary school No. 40 in the Lenin district of Bishkek, and then I transferred to a secondary school in the village of Orok, which I graduated from in 2020. After that, I enrolled in the Kyrgyz Economic University and started studying the Japanese language. On my father's advice, I had the idea to study abroad," she shares.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it became impossible to go to Japan — the borders were closed. As a result, my father and I contacted a language school to terminate the contract for studying in Japan. We started the termination process, and on the table, I saw brochures about studying in Korea. I took one, read it, and showed it to my father. He asked, "Daughter, do you like this? Will you go to study in Korea? Can you handle it?" I immediately agreed, as my father always dreamed of giving us the best education," Sofia recounts.
In January 2022, Sofia began preparing to apply to a Korean university. "In the morning, I attended Korean language courses, during the day I prepared for exams, and in the evenings, I worked as a waitress. In March, I started gathering documents for admission. At that time, there were not many students going to Korea, so finding information was difficult. Nevertheless, the admission invitation came faster than I expected, and I was not ready for it. However, the most challenging stage was obtaining a visa, as South Korea was reluctant to issue visas to citizens of Kyrgyzstan," she recalls.
This was due to the fact that some Kyrgyz citizens, leaving supposedly for studies, remained in the country illegally. We began the visa application process, and the most difficult moment was the interview with the Korean consul. I prepared with other students, and after submitting the documents, we waited for calls from the consulate. When the day of the interview came, I was very scared, as I saw how other students did not pass it.
That day, three did not pass the interview. The teacher said that the calls had ended, and the others were postponed to the next day. I returned home and calmed down a bit. Suddenly, the phone rang — the number was unfamiliar. When I answered, someone spoke in Korean. At first, I didn't understand, but soon realized that it was the Korean consul himself. I was confused, couldn't find the prepared sheet with answers, but I tried to respond to the questions. In the end, he said, "Keep trying!" and hung up.
When my father came home, I told him about the call. Tears were in my eyes, as I didn't know if I had passed or not. Our whole family waited for the visa response. One day, when we were at the market, I checked the status again and saw that the visa was approved. We hugged and cried with joy — the hardest stage was behind me, and I was off to Korea," she continues.
Now Sofia is in her third year at the Department of Korean Language and Literature at Ajou University, one of the best universities in Korea. "Reaching this point was difficult. Life abroad is completely different, a new people, an unfamiliar country and language, an unusual climate. I found it hard even to find suitable food. When I first started studying at the language school, I knew only three words: "Hello," "Thank you," and "Pork." I used them everywhere," she says.
Over time, I began to study the Korean language more diligently. My first achievement was first place in the Korean language exam. Seeing my father's joyful face, I felt a true victory. I continued studying and managed to enroll at Ajou University in Suwon, where I also achieved good results and receive a scholarship every semester," Sofia shared.
According to Akmatalieva, many Koreans do not know about Kyrgyzstan. "When I first arrived, I was often asked, 'Which country are you from?' When I replied that I was from Kyrgyzstan, many did not know where it was located. I had to explain that it is a country in Asia, bordering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China. This upset me, as it is nice to see when people know about your country," she says.
In recent years, my friend and I have actively participated in university events, introducing people to our culture. We prepare national dishes, wear traditional clothing, and conduct cultural programs. Professors highly appreciate our efforts and thank us. We prepare in advance for events, and our mothers sew us costumes; we order the necessary products from Kyrgyzstan. Engaging in all this, I feel more and more love for my homeland," she shares.
Now I have been living in Korea for almost four years, and this country continues to surprise me. Life here is much more convenient than in Kyrgyzstan, and there are many opportunities for development. Korea is famous for its cars and cosmetics. However, I enjoy the convenience of everyday life: the transportation system is well-developed, and it's easy to get anywhere in the country.
Koreans are disciplined and strictly adhere to the laws. The service here is at a high level, and people are greeted with a smile. The pace of life is very fast, and Koreans often say "palli-palli," which means "faster-faster."
The family I work for are also such people. They helped me from day one. At first, it was difficult to communicate due to the language barrier, but my employer supported me. During exams, he helped me study, and when I was struggling financially, he also did not remain indifferent. Since I do not eat pork, they prepared separate dishes for me. I celebrated national holidays with them and immersed myself in Korean culture," Sofia recounts.
According to her observations, South Korea is one of the expensive countries. "If you don't work, the money brought is enough for 2-3 months. I experienced this myself when my father sent me $3,000. With that money, I lived for three months, and when the money started to run out, I decided to look for a job. The amount that can be spent in Kyrgyzstan in a week is spent here in one day. To not be a burden to my family, I started working. I study in the morning and work during the day. In Korea, there are restrictions on work for students, but I learned Korean well and received permission for official work. Now I fully support myself, pay for my tuition, rent, and other expenses, and also help my family," she says.
But I have more than just studies and work. There are more Kyrgyz people in Korea now, and over these four years, I have made many friends. I used to live alone, but now I have friends, older and younger sisters, and teachers. We often meet and celebrate holidays together. I invite friends over and cook Kyrgyz dishes for them," she shares.
Currently, I study in the mornings and work after lunch. In my free time, I manage my social media page, collaborate with Korean brands, and shoot promotional videos. I also consult students who want to study in Korea and share my experience. In the future, I want to open an online school for learning the Korean language. After university, I plan to enroll in a master's program and do an internship as a Korean language teacher. Of course, I don't forget about my personal life. As a Kyrgyz girl, I dream of marrying a good Kyrgyz guy, but the most important thing for me is to successfully complete my studies, obtain my diploma, and make my father proud," she concludes.
