IMID Notes

When people think of Uzbek food, plov is usually the first dish that comes to mind. It is probably Uzbekistan's best-known dish and one of the foods visitors are most eager to try. But describing plov simply as rice cooked with meat and carrots does not really explain what it means in Uzbekistan. Plov can be an everyday meal, but it is also prepared for weddings, family celebrations, holidays and large gatherings. Different parts of Uzbekistan have their own styles and traditions connected with how it is cooked and served. For Uzbeks, plov is more than something to eat. It is closely connected with hospitality, family, community and tradition. What Is Uzbek Plov? Uzbek plov is traditionally prepared with rice, meat, carrots, onions, oil or fat and spices. Depending on the recipe and region, other ingredients may also be added, including chickpeas, raisins and garlic. Homemade Uzbek plov prepared with rice, meat and carrots. One of the most importa...

After going through the entire process of getting my driver's licence in South Korea, I naturally had another question: Can I use my Korean driver's licence when I go to Uzbekistan? A Korean driver's licence does not automatically give an Uzbek citizen the right to drive in Uzbekistan. At first, the answer might seem obvious. South Korea and Uzbekistan have an agreement concerning the recognition of driver's licences. However, there is an important detail: your citizenship matters. According to current Uzbek legal guidance, an Uzbek citizen who obtained a driver's licence abroad cannot simply use that foreign licence to drive in Uzbekistan. It must first be exchanged for an Uzbek national driver's licence through the established procedure. Uzbek legal guidance A Foreign Driver and an Uzbek Citizen Are Treated Differently This is probably the most important point. Uzbekistan recognises international driving permits and qualifyin...

The five Central Asian countries discussed in this article: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. South Korea is becoming an increasingly popular study destination for young people from Central Asia. Students from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan are coming to Korea not only to learn the Korean language but also to pursue bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. While looking more closely at Central Asian international students in Korea, I was surprised by just how large this community has become. According to statistics from Korea's Ministry of Education and the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), 20,010 students from the five Central Asian countries were studying at Korean higher education institutions as of April 1, 2025. Of them, 17,057, or 85.2%, were enrolled in degree programmes, while 2,953 were participating in non-degree programmes, including language training. ...

Getting a driver's license in Korea as a foreigner may seem complicated at first. There are several tests to pass, unfamiliar traffic rules to learn, and, for many foreigners, the additional challenge of taking the tests in a language that is not their first language. I went through the entire process myself and eventually received my Korean driver's license. Before getting into the details, I should clarify that Korea has several types of driver's licenses. The license I obtained was a Class 2 Ordinary Driver's License (제2종 보통 운전면허) , which is commonly used for driving regular passenger cars. For a Class 2 Ordinary Driver's License, the general process is: Traffic Safety Education → Physical Check-Up → Written Test → Driving Course Test → Learner's Permit → On-Road Driving Test → Driver's License I completed most of the process at the Dobong Driver's License Test Center, which I chose because it was close to where I live. Korea has offic...

Korea and Uzbekistan may seem very different at first glance. One is in East Asia and the other in Central Asia. They have different languages, histories, cuisines, and traditions. However, when we look at everyday life, the comparison becomes much more interesting. Both cultures place importance on family, respect, hospitality, and personal relationships, yet they often express these values in very different ways. Korean and Uzbek culture brought together through architecture, food, traditional designs, and familiar landscapes. Here are 10 everyday cultural differences between Korea and Uzbekistan that may help travellers, newcomers, and anyone curious about the two countries understand everyday life a little better. These comparisons are based on my own experiences and observations, so individual families, generations, and regions may naturally be different. 1. Age Matters in Korea One of the first things foreigners notice in Korea is how important age...