A South Korean writer has shared a positive personal reflection on life in Tashkent, describing her first year in Uzbekistan as an experience that reshaped her views on culture, safety and everyday life.
In an opinion piece published by The Korea Times, Park Gi-hyun writes that she moved to Tashkent nearly a year ago after her husband was assigned to work in Uzbekistan. She admits that before the relocation she knew little about the country or its capital and initially felt anxious about the move.
Her first encounter with Uzbek society came during the flight to Tashkent, where she witnessed passengers observing prayer time on board. The moment, she says, was unfamiliar and intimidating at first. However, over the course of the year, those early concerns gradually gave way to curiosity and appreciation.
Park highlights what she describes as the politeness and hospitality of local residents, noting that newcomers, particularly women, are treated with respect and care. She also reflects on learning to understand Islamic traditions, including the wearing of the hijab, which she says she has come to respect through better understanding of local customs.
Security was another concern at the start of her stay, but Park writes that she now feels safer in Tashkent than in her home country. She attributes this sense of security to visible policing, strong public order and strict regulations.
The author also points to Tashkent’s multicultural environment, saying the city’s geographic position allows her to meet people from Europe, Russia and the Middle East, exposing her to a wide range of cultures and cuisines.
Concluding her reflection, Park says she still has several years ahead in Uzbekistan and looks forward to continuing her life journey in Tashkent, describing the experience as enriching and personally rewarding.
