Nurgashevadilbek, grand prize winner of the 12th Multicultural Youth Awards, takes notes during class at Kyongil High School of Tourism and Business Management in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Nurgashevadilbek, an 18-year-old student, has made history as the first foreign student president of Kyongil High School of Tourism and Business Management in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.

Born in Kazakhstan to an ethnic Korean mother and a Kazakhstani father, Nurgashevadilbek spent his early years in the post-Soviet nation before moving to Korea in 2015. Upon arrival, he diligently learned Korean through study and interaction with people.

Ansan is a city known for its diverse population, with 55,594 foreign nationals and 41,567 residents of mixed nationality. The foreign population of the city makes up 12.7 percent of the total population. Nurgashevadilbek's election marks the first instance of a foreign student assuming this role within the school, despite the considerable presence of foreign and multicultural residents in the area.

"I always strive to show through actions rather than just words," he said.

His friends attribute his victory to his leadership and proactive involvement in school activities.

Lee Hye-won, a second-grade student at Kyongil High School, recalled her first encounter with Nurgashevadilbek during an after-school program.

"His leadership stood out when he assisted teachers during the program. I believed he would excel as our student president, even though we were in different classes last year," she said.

"He always looks out for every student, particularly those with a multicultural background or limited proficiency in Korean, during school events, ensuring that no one is left behind," said Lee Jae-hyeon, a first-year student and member of the student council alongside Nurgashevadilbek.

As student president, Nurgashevadilbek has initiated changes to the school's regulations, addressing concerns raised by fellow students. Notably, he successfully advocated for allowing students to wear gym clothes in the morning, addressing the discomfort caused by the winter uniform, particularly for girls.

Nurgashevadilbek's ability to listen to student concerns and advocate for change has made him a respected figure among his peers.

Not only his friends but also teachers at Kyongil High School commended Nurgashevadilbek's friendly demeanor.

His distinctive uneven hairstyle, crafted by a friend, reflects his amicable nature. This friendly gesture, of allowing a Russian friend, whose dream it is to run a barbershop one day, to practice cutting hair, showcases Nurgashevadilbek's willingness to support others.

Nurgashevadilbek also extends careful consideration to those around him, actively assisting foreign students facing language barriers.

Tskhaydanil, a non-fluent Korean-speaking foreign student, expressed gratitude, saying, “He helped me to communicate and form connections with other Korean students, explaining class content that I found challenging."

Nurgashevadilbek talks with his friends in his classroom, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Not confined to his role as the school's student president, Nurgashevadilbek actively engages in promotional endeavors for the institution. Teachers highlight the significant contribution of Nurgashevadilbek's cultural background in enhancing the school's visibility, particularly among parents and students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

During a key event on Sept. 16 hosted by the Gyeonggi Ansan Office of Education, Nurgashevadilbek gave information about the school in Russian in front of foreign parents and students who speak Russian, with his own presentation materials.

"His presentation at the explanation session vividly illustrated our school's environment and how we demonstrate respect for students from diverse cultural backgrounds," said Rim Un-young, the school's vice principal.

Nurgashevadilbek actively communicates with both students and teachers at school, assuming multiple roles as the student president and public ambassador. Teachers commend the substantial assistance he provides.

"Even our teachers jest that we don't want him to graduate from our school. He plays a significant role among both students and teachers,” said Shin Hye-jin, a teacher responsible for the international cooperation department at Kyongil High School.

Nurgashevadilbek speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his school campus, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Driven by a genuine interest in assisting others, particularly foreign residents facing challenges in adapting to life in Korea, Nurgashevadilbek actively advocates for their needs.

Reflecting on his experience as a middle school student, Nurgashevadilbek had the opportunity to address lawmakers during a meeting at the National Assembly, which was focused on listening to the concerns of the younger generation of foreign residents. With a focus on visa-related inconveniences, he highlighted the hurdles faced by those attempting to transition from an F-1 visa, designed for visits and residence, to an F-4 visa, allowing foreign residents to work.

"If foreign residents attempt to change their visa status, it used to take at least 1 million won ($758) and more than half a year. I aim to streamline the time and cost involved in changing visa status for foreign residents,” he said.

He underscored the considerable time and financial burden associated with the process to the lawmakers.

Remarkably, three months later, the system underwent a transformative change. Lawmakers, having engaged with Nurgashevadilbek's concerns, adjusted the regulations to enable a faster visa status change within a month, with costs reduced to less than 100,000 won. This responsive action reflected a recognition of the identified blind spots in the system after lawmakers' interaction with Nurgashevadilbek.

Harboring aspirations of leading an accounting firm as its CEO, Nurgashevadilbek's interest in the field was sparked by his father, who works as an analyst. This passion further manifested in his academic pursuits, where he delved into related subjects at school.

"During the practical accounting course, I was truly impressed when I observed him explaining the concept of accounts payable in Korean to a Korean student who struggled to understand," said an accounting teacher.

With a focus on creating initiatives to help people someday, Nurgashevadilbek aims to support students overcoming challenges similar to those he has faced.

"Since I'm a foreigner, I want to contribute to creating an environment where I can live a better life by establishing welfare programs for students navigating specific difficulties, much like I did," he said.