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

In 1991, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, in collaboration with the Korean University of Foreign Studies, organized 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 90s, when there was no team of Korean studies experts, thanks to the cooperation and support of Korean agencies, including universities in Korea, the International Cooperation Organization (Koica) and the dedication of Vietnamese professors in the fields of History, Area Studies, and Linguistics, the Department of Korean Studies of the University was officially established in 1994.

The Counselor of the Korean Embassy spoke at the Conference

Since its establishment, the Department of Korean Studies, Faculty of Oriental Studies has aimed at training human resources for Korean studies, not simply training human resources for Korean language. The Department has organized dozens of scientific seminars, conducted academic exchanges and collaborations with domestic and foreign researchers; translated and published many textbooks and documents related to Korean studies, and developed research documents on Korean studies in Vietnam.

Prof. Ahn Kyong-hwan (Chosun University) donated some of his translated works - poems, prose, and diaries of Vietnamese authors into Korean - to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Up to now, the Department of Korean Studies has trained about 700 students majoring in Korean Studies, who are currently working at diplomatic agencies, research institutes and Korean enterprises in Vietnam. Notably, among the graduates, many have studied for master's and doctoral degrees at home and abroad and then become lecturers at universities with Korean Language or Korean Studies departments in Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) said: After 25 years, the achievements of cooperation between Vietnam and Korea are always mentioned along with cultural similarities. However, it is the cultural differences that need to be noted. These differences are not only the driving force for mutual exploration and discovery, but also the 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 evaluate and review both the achievements and challenges, the advantages and disadvantages in the relationship between the two countries. Discussions around this issue will be more important and valuable when conducted from two directions, with the viewpoints and perspectives of scholars from both Vietnam and Korea at the workshop "25 years of Vietnam - Korea relations: assessment and perspective".

At the conference, the opinions of scholars stated that after 25 years, the relationship between Vietnam and Korea has developed into a comprehensive partnership in the 21st century. Exchanges and cooperation between the two countries are expected to expand at a faster pace and be more diverse in the fields of activity. To develop a sustainable cooperative relationship with Vietnam, one of the key activities is to build a strong foundation in training Korean language and Korean studies in Vietnam as well as training Vietnamese language and Vietnamese studies in Korea. To do that, it is necessary to focus on training a team of experts in Vietnamese studies and Korean studies, and to cooperate with leading universities in the two countries to open training programs in these two fields with absolute investment from the governments of the two countries and universities. This is the time when strategic investment is needed for Vietnam and Korea to promote cooperation and develop together to a new level.

The workshop focused on discussing the main contents: Reviewing and re-evaluating the cultural relations between Vietnam and Korea, similarities and differences; Future and development orientation of cultural relations between the two countries, - research issues and approaches; General research cooperation directions of scholars of the two countries.

The workshop is an opportunity for academic exchange between experts in Vietnamese and Korean studies from the two countries. They are 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, University of Foreign Languages ​​- Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Hanoi University; teachers from the Faculty of History, Institute of Journalism and Communication, Faculty of Oriental Studies... - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi.

The workshop had notable presentations such as:Prospects and plans for developing Korean studies in Vietnam(Prof. Ahn Kyong-hwan, Chosun University),What do Vietnamese think about the country and people of Korea - survey results after 25 years of normalizing Vietnam - Korea relations?(Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Institute of Journalism and Communication),The issue of preserving and developing traditional Korean culture(Prof. Dr. Mai Ngoc Chu, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities),Favorable development conditions of Han Dynasty in Vietnam(Dr. Nguyen Thi Tham, Northeast Asia Research Institute),Vietnam and Korea trade relations(1992-2017) (Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities)...