Korean Poetry Comes Alive at HSE University Contest
On June 10, 2026, the HSE University–Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme hosted a Korean Poetry Recitation Contest. Despite the demanding schedule of preparation for the summer examination session, participants went beyond simply memorising poems in Korean, creating original performances complete with presentations and musical accompaniment. The contest brought together students from HSE University and several other higher education institutions.
The event was organised through a joint initiative of two divisions of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs (WEIA): the Kyung Hee Double Degree Programme and the School of Asian Studies.
Bringing together enthusiasts of the Korean language and culture, the competition required extensive preparation from participants. Students were tasked not only with learning a poem in Korean but also with developing a full creative performance, incorporating visual presentations and music to convey the nuances of the poetic imagery.
The performances were evaluated by a jury consisting of faculty members and invited Korean Studies specialists:
- Daria Grishina, Doctor of Sciences, Professor at the School of Asian Studies (WEIA)
- Ekaterina Kliuikova, Candidate of Sciences (PhD), Research Fellow at the Institute for Oriental and Classical Studies (HSE Faculty of Humanities)
- Elena Khokhlova, Candidate of Sciences (PhD), Assistant Professor at the School of Asian Studies (WEIA)
- YongBae Yu, Korean language instructor at the HSE University–Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme
The contest was supported by Orion, which served as the event’s partner. Winners and prize recipients received commemorative gifts, including books in Korean and gift sets of Korean sweets provided by Orion, adding a festive touch to the occasion.
Participants included HSE University students representing both the Kyung Hee Double Degree Programme and the School of Asian Studies, as well as guests from other Moscow universities where Korean is taught as a specialised subject.
Winners—Senior Category (Years 3–5)
- First place shared by Lima Malinovskaya (Moscow City University) for '나는 배웠다' (양광모) and Sofia Tagirova (HSE University) for her original poem '행복이란'
Winners—Junior Category (Years 1–2)
- First Place: Kseniya Petukh (Moscow City University) for '초혼' (김소월)
- Second Place: Ekaterina Yurchak (HSE University) for 참회록 (윤동주)
- Third Place: Oleg Tytyuchenko (HSE University) for '아니오' (신동엽)
Serving as a welcome creative highlight before the start of examination week, the contest demonstrated that true immersion in a language is impossible without an appreciation of the country’s poetry and culture. The organisers intend to make the event an annual tradition, expanding participation and introducing increasingly ambitious performance formats in future editions.
Admissions to the HSE and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Bachelor’s Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia are now open. Visit the programme website to learn more.
See also:
‘Fear Isn’t Always a Signal to Stop; Sometimes, It’s a Signal to Begin a New Challenge.’
Huh Yun is from South Korea, lived in Kyrgyzstan, and has now moved to Moscow to study on the HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs. In this interview with the HSE News Service, Yun talks about what makes HSE a forward-thinking university, how students can help each other settle into university life, and why it’s important to keep challenging yourself.
Speed, Precision, and Self-Correction: HSE Faculty of Computer Science Researchers at ICML-2026
Researchers from the HSE Faculty of Computer Science (FCS) presented their work at theInternational Conference on Machine Learning (ICML 2026) in Seoul, South Korea, one of the leading scientific events in the field. Several projects by the faculty’s researchers received the prestigious Spotlight distinction.
The Path of an Expert: The New Head of the School of Asian Studies, Alexey Efimov, on China, Career Choices, and Training Modern Specialists
Alexey Efimov has been appointed Head of the School of Asian Studies at the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs. He brings with him 18 years of experience of living and working in China. Alexey Efimov was involved in opening the RIA Novosti bureau in the People’s Republic of China, took part in establishing the Sputnik China news agency, and from 2019 served as Deputy Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in China. Elizaveta Trubnikova spoke with Alexey Efimov in an interview that sheds light on how a career path from analyst to journalist and diplomat in China shapes one’s understanding of the East, why soft skills are crucial for today’s international affairs professionals, and what prospects lie ahead for the development of the School of Asian Studies.
‘Life Is for the Brave’: HSE University–St Petersburg Student from Mexico Wins StudRussia Competition
Gisel Sarahi Vergara Herrera, second-year student of the Master’s programme ‘Arts and Culture Management,’ became a winner of the StudRussia all-Russian competition for international students. Her project was awarded the first prize in the ‘Creative Spirit’ category. Read on to find out about Gisel’s work and experience of participating in such a large-scale contest for international students.
HSE Students Among Top 10 Finalists of POC CTF
Five students from the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (MIEM HSE) have ranked among the top ten finalists of the major cybersecurity competition POC CTF. The final, held in Seoul (Republic of Korea), brought together 50 students and professionals representing leading global companies and universities in the field of cybersecurity.
Techarena Training Camp in Sports Programming Held at HSE University
The HSE University Faculty of Computer Science has hosted the third Techarena Challenge competition and the HSE Techarena Training Camp. More than 130 teams from Russian and international universities took part, competing to solve an optimisation problem. The on-site round, which was scored individually, lasted four hours.
HSE Students Show Outstanding Results at Prestigious CTF Competitions
In late October 2025, HSE University students achieved outstanding results in several Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions on information security. Five students joined the Moscow national team, which won the Russian Sports Programming Championship, while three other HSE teams became finalists and winners of the UralCUP CTF and the Kuban CTF tournaments. The CTF Academy, an initiative that brings together students and teachers, has served as a central hub for building HSE's CTF community.
'I Would Be Interested to Speak with Chinese Farmers'
Veronika Smirnova studies China's approach to global food security and has spent a year at Renmin University in Beijing. In this interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, she speaks about Xi Jinping's flagship initiatives, her interest in John Boyd Orr of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and her love for malatang and xiao long bao.
‘Mayflies Are Drifting along the River–This Is a Symbol that Everything Goes By’
Arseniy Uspenskij (Litvin) initially studied Indology but ultimately focused on Assyriology. In an interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, he discussed the metrical structure of Akkadian poetry, the deciphering of the Behistun inscription, and King Sargon.
Indonesia Hosts HSE International Olympiad for First Time
HSE University and the Russian House in Indonesia have held the first offline INTO HSE olympiad in Jakarta. It is a new, free event in English for international school students.