Abstract

This article examines how Kazakhstan and South Korea shape their cultural trajectories through differently structured systems of cultural policy, emphasizing the roles of cultural governance, institutional design, and strategic cultural development. The study is guided by several research questions: How do the two countries conceptualize cultural policy as a mechanism of cultural growth? Which institutional arrangements support cultural ecosystems? How do cultural strategies influence creative production, heritage transformation, and global cultural presence? The purpose of the article is to compare the cultural-policy frameworks of the two countries in order to identify their underlying cultural logics and evaluate which elements of international experience may enhance Kazakhstan’s cultural development. Methodologically, the research relies on comparative analysis, discourse analysis, and content analysis of strategic cultural documents, supplemented by the international datasets on cultural industries and creative-sector dynamics. 
The study demonstrates that Kazakhstan prioritizes cultural continuity, symbolic heritage, and identity preservation, forming a model in which cultural policy primarily safeguards traditional meanings. South Korea, meanwhile, has developed a culturally productive model based on digital creativity, content export, and globally oriented cultural initiatives supported by specialized institutions such as KOCCA and KOCIS. These approaches differ in institutional autonomy, technological integration, and the capacity to translate cultural resources into international cultural presence. The article argues that Kazakhstan could strengthen its cultural policy by combining heritage-focused strategies with innovation-driven mechanisms, thereby fostering a more adaptive and outward-looking cultural ecosystem. The study contributes to comparative research on cultural policy by offering a structured understanding of how different cultural models evolve in response to global cultural transformations.