International Scientific Conference Celebrating 32 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Vietnam and South Korea

On November 8, 2024, the Faculty of Korean Language and Culture at Van Lang University successfully hosted an international scientific conference on the theme "Vietnam-South Korea Diplomatic Relations: Toward Long-term Cooperation in the Global Context from Historical and Cultural Perspectives." The event attracted over 200 researchers from various countries, including South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Spain, and the United States. Among the distinguished guests was Ambassador Ly Xuan Can, the 31st descendant of King Ly Thai To and Vietnam's Tourism Ambassador to South Korea.

To commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Korea (December 22, 1992 - December 22, 2024), the Faculty of Korean Language and Culture took the lead in organizing an international conference, with the sponsorship of the Academy of Korean Studies and close cooperation from the Korean Research Association of Vietnam (KRAV). The conference featured five discussion sessions, during which 22 presentations were made, covering the following key topics:

(1) The history of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Korea from past to present.
(2) The exchange and cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea across various fields.
(3) Proposals and suggestions for the direction of future exchanges and cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea.
(4) The history and experience of exchanges and cooperation between South Korea and other countries worldwide.
(5) Other research topics related to Korean and Vietnamese culture.

At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, President of Van Lang University, shared that the positive outcomes from the discussion sessions would play a significant role in strengthening the ties between the university and its partners, as well as the Korean community, thus fostering better diplomatic relations between nations and regions globally. With the mission of prioritizing education, Van Lang hopes that from the perspectives of history and culture, the conference will help connect the current generation with the long-standing values preserved by their ancestors.

Mr. Shin Choong-Il, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, expressed his expectations for the new phase of cooperation with Van Lang University: "The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with the Faculty of Korean Language and Culture at Van Lang University, has successfully organized many cultural and academic events for students. In this blooming phase of Vietnam-Korea cooperation, I hope this conference will contribute to the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between the two countries, fostering mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, society, and culture."

With the desire to connect the new generation to the historical relationship between Korea and Vietnam, Ambassador Ly Xuong Can – the 31st descendant of King Ly Thai To and Vietnam's Ambassador of Tourism in South Korea – introduced to the scholars and students of Van Lang University the story of the forgotten prince’s wish in his keynote speech at the conference. This presentation provided attendees with an opportunity to reconnect with their roots, learning about the efforts and contributions Ly Xuong Can has made and continues to make for the development of Vietnam. "Although my Vietnamese blood is now only about 0.01%, my love for Vietnam is incredibly strong," Ambassador Ly Xuong Can emotionally shared.

After several hours of serious discussions, the experts at the conference provided a range of conclusions, with most researchers agreeing that Korean pop culture and the entertainment industry have had a significant impact on Vietnamese culture. Professor Phan Thi Thu Hien, Lecturer at the Faculty of Cultural Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, HCMC, emphasized that: "The Vietnam-Korea diplomatic relations have accelerated the development of Korean language training and Korean Studies in Vietnam, both in terms of quantity and quality." With scientific topics that brought valuable academic insights to the participants, the conference offered new and profound perspectives on the relationship between the two countries. It also served as a bridge connecting scholars, both domestic and international, to discuss topics related to history and culture in the context of the regional and global landscape.

Congratulations to Van Lang University and the Faculty of Korean Language and Culture for successfully organizing this significant international scientific conference. With the goal of becoming a globally recognized university for its quality and offering positive values to its students, the conference has yielded great results. It has fostered a spirit of learning among faculty, researchers, and students of Van Lang, providing an opportunity to acquire cultural and historical knowledge from experts to effectively apply in their studies and teaching at the university.

News: Gia My
Photos: Dang Anh, Dac Khanh, Ngoc Duy