Meet Korean writer Kim Young Ha

As a person whose father fought in Vietnam, Kim Young Ha has a lot of connections with Vietnam, especially during the war. Vietnam was the first country his father came to and brought back many objects bearing the mark of this country. Vietnam is also a country that has many similarities with Korea when it also went through a period similar to the situation of Vietnam before liberation; with movements to fight for the liberation of the country. He is very happy that his work has been translated into Vietnamese and released to a wide audience of the country that he just learned about through the work "White Shirt Saigon".

Korean writer Kim Young Ha at the exchange/Photo: Jackie Chan

As a writer who has experienced both war and peace, he is always aware of the difference between the scenes of these two periods. Deep within him are traces of the poor young soldier in the photos of dead buffaloes, contrasting with the image of modern youth today. Kim Young Ha believes that Vietnam today has also changed a lot compared to the Vietnam his father saw or the image in "White Shirt Saigon". In particular, he finds similarities in his works about sadness in peacetime with the work "The Sorrow of War" by writer Bao Ninh. All reflect the naked, vivid appearance of today's life, where besides economic growth there is a deadlock in the lives of young people. One of the negative consequences of modern life reflected in his literature is suicide, such as the work "I have the right to destroy myself".

Finally, through literature, Kim Young Ha wants to convey two messages. The first is that Korean culture does not only exist in music and cinema, which are easily seen and encountered, but also appears in literature. What we see in literature will be very different from television dramas. The second is that literature will be a bridge to bring two cultures together through the writer's pen, helping to dispel illusions and misunderstandings, opening up new horizons for a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary culture. This is also the view shared and agreed upon by writer Bao Ninh and all listeners.

Kim Young Ha is a famous Korean writer. His works have won many domestic awards and are loved and read in Korea and dozens of countries around the world. He was featured in the magazineMoonjiis considered 'one of the young authors leading 21st century Korean literature. One of his famous works translated into Vietnamese is "What happens, who knows".