ASEAN-RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Promoted
	Vietnam-RoK Game Industry Exchange Promoted

How has the Vietnamese community in the Republic of Korea (RoK) developed in recent years?

As of April 30, 2024, the total number of Vietnamese citizens residing, working, studying, and temporarily staying in the RoK is 297,999. Among them, the largest group comprises international students, numbering 85,957, followed by 74,633 laborers, 39,379 individuals on marriage-based residency, and others, including professionals and business investors.

Launching ceremony for Vietnamese language day and opening of Vietnamese language classes for children from multicultural families or vietnamese children born and raised in the RoK.

Approximately 80,000 Vietnamese nationals have acquired RoK citizenship, primarily through marriage to RoK spouses, while others have naturalized as scientists, businesspeople, or under standard procedures. The Vietnamese community has made and continues to make increasingly positive contributions to the host country’s economic, cultural, and social development.

In recent years, how has the Association of Vietnamese in the RoK contributed to building a strong Vietnamese community in the host country?

Established in 2011, the Association of Vietnamese in Korea (AVCK) currently comprises 15 local chapters across the country. Throughout its activities, the association and its chapters have been recognized for their community support efforts, promoting solidarity, compassion, and mutual assistance. Their initiatives also extend to supporting the homeland through fundraising for those in need, and providing aid during natural disasters, pandemics, and floods.

The association regularly organizes visits to Vietnamese families facing difficulties in the RoK, mobilizes sponsorships to help individuals reunite with their families after years of separation, and offers legal consultations for those experiencing domestic abuse.

Additionally, AVCK holds annual cultural festivals celebrating Vietnam’s National Day (September 2), Tet fairs, and various sports, cultural, and tourism events. These activities, held in major city squares like Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and Gwangju, showcase Vietnam’s culture and people to the RoK public.

Recently, with support from the Vietnamese Embassy, the association has launched Vietnamese language classes for children from multicultural families or those born and raised in the RoK. This initiative aims to foster a love for the Vietnamese language, culture, and history among the younger generation.

Representatives from AVCK also participate in programs organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV), as well as community meetings with visiting delegations. Notably, I had the opportunity to propose ideas for collaborative programs for Vietnamese-Korean children in the RoK, such as youth camps, Vietnamese language speech contests, and folk song competitions, which have gained the attention of SCOV. Earlier in August 2024, the community was delighted to see 40 Vietnamese-Korean children participate in a summer camp in Vietnam.

In addition to AVCK, several other Vietnamese associations and networks operate in the RoK, including the Vietnamese Students Association in Korea (VSAK), Vietnam Innovation Network in Korea (VINK), Vietnam Football Association in Korea (VFAK), and charity groups. These organizations host a wide range of activities, from cultural and artistic events to scientific and sports initiatives, further enriching the Vietnamese community’s presence and integration in the RoK.

In your opinion, what should we do to enhance the role of overseas Vietnamese as “extended arms of the nation”?

To maximize this role, I propose that domestic agencies create opportunities for overseas Vietnamese who meet the necessary qualifications and qualities to take on key positions in organizations within the country. Additionally, there should be stronger connections and collaboration between organizations both in Vietnam and abroad, such as the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Vietnam Women’s Union, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, friendship associations, and other similar entities.

We also hope that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV) will expand the scope of annual programs for overseas communities, allowing more participants to engage in these meaningful activities.

Many overseas Vietnamese have shared that through such events, they have had the chance to return home, strengthening their bond with the motherland. These occasions deepen their gratitude for the sacrifices of previous generations, whose efforts have secured the peace and prosperity Vietnam enjoys today, and they inspire an even greater sense of patriotism than ever before.

The Vietnamese Association in Korea attended the Homeland Spring Program 2024.

We also hope for more forums and gatherings for overseas Vietnamese, such as the World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, where compatriots from all over the world can come together to exchange ideas and share perspectives. The ultimate and shared goal is to contribute, even in the smallest way, to the building of a stronger and more prosperous Vietnam—one that stands shoulder to shoulder with the world's great powers, as envisioned by President Ho Chi Minh.

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