Seminar on Korean Language and Literature Studies in Vietnam

This morning, January 25, 2010, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Yonsei University (South Korea) jointly organized a seminar on "Research on Korean Language and Literature in Vietnam". The research delegation from Yonsei University was led by Professor Shin Hyung Ki.

[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2010/01/25/nvkim.jpg" border="0" alt="Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim giving the opening speech at the seminar. (Photo: NA/USSH)" title="Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim giving the opening speech at the seminar. (Photo: NA/USSH)" align="right" width="220"/>

In his opening remarks at the seminar, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Kim - Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - stated that: From a regional comparative research perspective, the Vietnamese and Korean peoples share many similarities in history, society, and culture. As both are masters of rice-based economies, sharing common values ​​of Eastern civilization, and both facing challenges and political oppression from regional empires, the two nations naturally developed a harmonious and empathetic relationship in thought, feeling, political and cultural responses, as well as in struggles to preserve their national identity and sovereignty. Based on this, this seminar is an opportunity for scientists from both countries to re-examine the development process and the similarities and differences in literature, culture, and language between Korea and Vietnam.

The seminar will focus on discussing four main topics:

• Prospects for literary exchange between Vietnam and South Korea
• Korean Language and Literature Studies in Asia: Tradition and Future
• A historical chart of modern Vietnamese and Korean literature.
• Teaching Korean as a foreign language in Vietnam

The seminar will conclude tomorrow, January 26, 2010.