Vietnam-Korea Relations: Brothers through Thick and Thin

Professor Ahn Kyong Hwan, chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Studies in the Republic of Korea (RoK).

When discussing the greatest success of the Vietnam-Korea friendship and cooperation in the past 30 years, Professor Ahn Kyong Hwan, chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Studies in the Republic of Korea (RoK) said:

In the 16th century, during the Le Dynasty, the famous artist Phung Khac Khoan (1528 - 1613) went to Yen Kinh during the Ming Dynasty. He met and discussed with Joseon's emissary Ly Tuy Quang (1563-1628).

The two exchanged a total of 39 letters and 9 essays. There is an old saying that means: All within the four seas are brothers. We need to share the same boat, the same trailer to cross the river.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations on December 22, 1992, the relations of the two countries have been developing. At the time the two countries established diplomatic relations, the trade turnover between the two countries was only US$500 million . After 30 years, Vietnam and the RoK are aiming for a trade turnover of US$100 billion by 2023, an increase of about 200 times.

In your opinion, what factors contributed to this achievement?

I think the biggest factor of this success is the friendship in the hearts of the two peoples.

Another factor is the introduction of the "Doi Moi" (renovation) policy adopted in 1986. There is also the excellent policy of the Vietnamese government: actively attracting FDI.

The cultural similarity between Vietnam and the RoK, the hard work and ingenuity of the Vietnamese people are also factors bringing achievements for economic cooperation, attracting investment of RoK enterprises into Vietnam.

What areas should Vietnam focus on in cooperation with the RoK?

To develop the economy and become a developed country, Vietnam needs to improve its weak labor force, focus on producing electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Analysts said that the visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc turned the two countries' diplomatic relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership, and economic cooperation in the future opens up many opportunities.

Vietnam is the RoK's largest export and investment partner. The RoK is Vietnam's third largest trade market and largest investment partner. The two countries need to make efforts to deal with outstanding economic problems.

Working in education, what have you done to help young people continue to build the Vietnam-RoK friendship?

For Vietnam and the RoK to maintain and develop the relationship, the two nations need to understand each other's cultures.

If we do not understand each other's culture, we cannot maintain economic cooperation. I try to help young people understand the culture of the two countries. I help Koreans as well as Korean students understand Vietnamese culture.

Professor Ahn Kyong Hwan spends most of his life introducing Vietnamese culture to the Korean people.

I have translated Vietnamese literary works, written articles for newspapers and magazines so that more people can understand Vietnamese culture.

During President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's visit from December 4 to 6, diplomatic relations were upgraded to "comprehensive strategic partnership". To do this, it is necessary to exchange cultures between the people of the two countries.

What do you expect from the relationship between the two countries, especially the friendship between the two peoples in the coming time?

I hope in the future, Vietnam-RoK relations will be like brothers and sisters. The two countries cooperate in resources, technology and investment capital to develop new technologies and jointly exploit the global market. Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have become the key forces working together for world peace and ushering in an era of coexistence and mutual glory.

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