"Revaluation of cultural relations between Korea and Vietnam"

In 1991, USSH, VNU Hanoi collaborated with the Hankuk University of Foreign Languages to hold the first conference in Vietnam-Korea relations. In 1992, USSH became the first unit specializing in Korean studies and language in Vietnam. In the 90s, when there had not been enough Korean studies experts, thanks to the support and cooperation from Korean organizations, including South Korean universities and the Korean international Cooperation Agency, and the dedication of Vietnamese professors specializing in History, Area studies and Linguistics, the Division of Korean Studies was officially founded at USSH in 1994. 

His Excellency Minister-Counselor of South Korea to Vietnam speaks at the conference

Since its establishment, Division of South Korea studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies considered its objective as training human resources not just in South Korean language but in South Korean studies. The Division has annually held many academic conferences, exchanges and discussions with domestic and foreign researchers; translated and published many textbooks and materials related to Korean studies, and compiled Korean studies archives in Vietnam.

Prof. Ahn Kyong-hwan (Chosun University) grants some of his translation works (from Vietnam to Korea) to USSH

Until now, the Division has trained around 700 students, who are now working at diplomatic bodies, research institutes and South Korean businesses in Vietnam. Especially, among the graduates, many have completed domestic and foreign master's and doctorate programs and become lecturers at universities that offer Korean studies and language courses in Vietnam.

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr Nguyen Van Kim (USSH's Vice Rector) said: After 25 years, the success of Vietnam-Korea relations has always been associated with the two countries' cultural similarities. However, their differences are what deserve more attention, which not only motivate mutual discovery and understanding, but also provide the basis for sustainable development of their bilateral relations, helping to solve difficulties and contradictions and elavate the relations in the future.

Therefore, after 25 years, the revaluation and review of the achievements and challenges, the strengths and weaknesses of this bilateral relationship are necessary. Discussions surrounding this issue become more important and valuable when put in a two-dimensional lens created by the viewpoints and perspectives of both Vietnamese and Korean scholars at the conference.

At the conference, the scholars remarked: after 25 years, the Vietnam-Korea relationship has evolved into a comprehensive strategic relationship in the 21st century. Bilateral cooperation and exchanges are expected to spread more rapidly and variedly in different areas. To develop a sustainable cooperative relationship with Vietnam, one of the central tasks is to strongly develop the teaching of Korean studies and language in Vietnam as well as that of Vietnamese studies and language in South Korea. To this end, it is necessary to focus on cultivating the Vietnamese studies and Korea studies experts and connect the leading universities of two countries to extend curricula with the dedicated investments by the two governments. This is a time when strategic investments are needed to improve cooperation and elevate the relations to a new level. 

The conference discussed the following issues: Revaluation of the Vietnam-Korea cultural relations, the similarities and differences; the future and orientations for developing these cultural relations - research topics and approaches; and orientations for conducting joint studies between the scholars of the two countries.

The conference gathered experts in Vietnamese studies and Korea studies. The Vietnamese researchers came from USSH Hanoi, USSH Ho Chi Minh; Ho Chi Minh University of Education, Vung Tau University, University of Languages and International Studies - VNU Hanoi.

Some of the notable papers at the conference were: Prospects and options for developing Korean Studies in Vietnam (Prof. Ahn Kyong-hwan, Chosun University), How do Vietnamese think of Korea? Results of a survey after 25 years of Vietnam and Korea normalized relationship (Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, USSH's School of Journalism and Communication), The maintenance and development of Korea traditional culture (Prof. Dr Mai Ngoc Chu, Faculty of Oriental Studies, USSH), The favorable conditions for Hallyu in Vietnam  (Dr. Nguyen Thi Tham, Institute for Northeast Asian Studies), Vietnam-Korea trade relations (1992-2017) (Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, USSH Hanoi)...