2015 Korean Speaking Contest

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Korea were officially established in 1992; however, at that time, there were no formal Korean language training institutions in Vietnam. It wasn't until 1994 that the Korean language program first appeared in the curriculum of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. By 2012, there were 11 universities nationwide with Korean language departments, employing approximately 2,500 students. Along with cultural exchange and especially the influence of the Hallyu wave, the Korean language has become a growing trend, yet there has still been no nationwide Korean speaking competition commensurate with this development.

Starting in 2007, based on the experience accumulated during their studies in Vietnam, the Vietnam-Korea Cultural Exchange Center (a non-governmental organization - NGO) organized the National Korean-Vietnamese Speaking Contest. The contest was not only for Vietnamese students studying Korean, but also provided an exciting platform for Korean students living in Vietnam. The contest created a platform for exchange, where students from both countries could not only showcase their language skills but also have the opportunity to interact and learn from each other.

The competition attracted the attention of all students majoring in Korean Studies – Faculty of Oriental Studies. (Photo: Thu Hang).

In preparation for the 8th National Korean-Vietnamese Speaking Contest, the Korean Studies Department of the Faculty of Oriental Studies organized the 2015 Korean Speaking Contest. The program was attended by Mr. Park Myung Chul – Chief Representative of the Korea Foundation in Vietnam. The judging panel included: Dr. Ha Minh Thanh - Deputy Head of the Korean Studies Department, Ms. Kwon Mi Ae - Lecturer at the Sejong Korean Language Center, Ms. Jeong Har Ri - Lecturer at the Sejong Korean Language Center, and Mr. Nguyen Minh Chung - Lecturer in the Korean Studies Department.

Mr. Park Myung Chul – Chief Representative of the Korea Foundation in Vietnam – speaks at the ceremony (Photo: Thu Hang)

After the preliminary round, the judging panel carefully considered and selected the 10 most outstanding students to advance to the final round. Each contestant will have 3 minutes to present on a self-chosen topic to showcase their language skills. Following this, the contestants will listen to feedback and answer questions from the judging panel.

Three contestants will represent the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in the 8th Korean-Vietnamese Speaking Contest. (Photo: Thu Hang)

In the final results, Han Thi Van Anh won first prize, while Nguyen Thi Nga and Giang Yen Ngoc won second prize. These three contestants will represent the University of Social Sciences and Humanities at the 2015 National Korean-Vietnamese Speaking Contest.

The program is sponsored by Kookmin Bank of Korea and the Korea Foundation.