"25 years of Vietnam-Korea relations: assessment and perspective"

In 1991, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, collaborated with Hankuk University of Foreign Studies to organize the first conference on Vietnam-Korea relations. In 1992, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities became the first Korean language and Korean studies unit in Vietnam. In the 1990s, lacking a team of experts in Korean studies, thanks to the cooperation and support of Korean agencies, including universities in Korea, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and the dedication of Vietnamese professors in the fields of History, Area Studies, and Linguistics, the Department of Korean Studies was officially established in 1994.

The Korean Counselor delivered a speech at the seminar.

Since its establishment, the Department of Korean Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies, has focused on training personnel in Korean studies, rather than solely on training personnel in the Korean language. The department has organized dozens of scientific conferences, conducted academic exchanges with researchers both domestically and internationally, translated and published numerous textbooks and materials related to Korean studies, and developed research materials on Korean studies in Vietnam.

Professor Ahn Kyong-hwan (Chosun University) donated several of his translated works – poems, prose, and diaries by Vietnamese authors – to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

To date, the Department of Korean Studies has trained approximately 700 students specializing in Korean Studies, who are currently working in diplomatic agencies, research institutes, and Korean businesses in Vietnam. Notably, many of the graduates have gone on to pursue master's and doctoral degrees both domestically and internationally, and have become lecturers at universities with Korean language or Korean studies departments in Vietnam.

In his opening remarks at the workshop, Professor Nguyen Van Kim (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) stated: After 25 years, the achievements of cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea are always mentioned in conjunction with cultural similarities. However, it is the cultural differences that need attention. These differences are not only a driving force for mutual exploration and discovery, but also a foundation for maintaining and sustainably developing the relationship between the two countries, helping to resolve difficulties and disagreements and move towards elevating the relationship in the future.

For these reasons, after more than 25 years of developing relations, it is necessary to reassess and review both the achievements and challenges, the strengths and weaknesses in the relationship between the two countries. Discussions surrounding this issue will be even more important and valuable when conducted from both sides, with the perspectives and viewpoints of scholars from both Vietnam and South Korea at the conference "25 Years of Vietnam-Korea Relations: Assessment and Review".

At the conference, scholars noted that after 25 years, the relationship between Vietnam and South Korea has developed into a comprehensive partnership in the 21st century. Exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are predicted to expand rapidly and diversify across various fields. To develop a sustainable cooperative relationship with Vietnam, one of the key activities is to build a strong foundation in Korean language and Korean studies training in Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese language and Vietnamese studies training in South Korea. To achieve this, it is necessary to focus on training experts in Vietnamese and Korean studies, and to collaborate with leading universities in both countries to open training programs in these two fields with full investment from the governments of both countries and the universities. This is a time for strategic investment to enable Vietnam and South Korea to strengthen cooperation and develop together to a new level.

The workshop focused on discussing the following main topics: Reassessing and re-evaluating the cultural relationship between Vietnam and South Korea, including similarities and differences; the future and development direction of cultural relations between the two countries - research issues and approaches; and directions for joint research cooperation between scholars of the two countries.

The workshop provided an opportunity for academic exchange between experts in Vietnamese and Korean studies from both countries. These included professors from Korea and Vietnamese researchers from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City; Ho Chi Minh City University of Education; Vung Tau University; the University of Foreign Languages ​​- Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Hanoi University; and faculty members from the Department of History, the Institute of Journalism and Communication Training, the Department of Oriental Studies, etc. - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.

The workshop included notable presentations such as:Prospects and development options for Korean studies in Vietnam.(Prof. Ahn Kyong-hwan, Chosun University),What do Vietnamese people think about South Korea and its people? - Results of a survey conducted 25 years after the normalization of Vietnam-South Korea relations.(Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Institute of Journalism and Communication Training)The issue of preserving and developing traditional Korean culture.(Prof. Dr. Mai Ngoc Chu, Department of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities)Favorable conditions for the development of the Korean Wave in Vietnam.(Dr. Nguyen Thi Tham, Institute of Northeast Asian Studies)Trade relations between Vietnam and South Korea(1992-2017) (Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities)...