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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

Opening of Foundation Office in HoChiMinh City, Vietnam

The decision to select Vietnam as one of the five countries for the Foundation`s first-ever overseas offices might be as dramatic as the rapid development of the 13-year-old diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam. Moreover, no other time would be more appropriate than the year 2005, the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, as an occasion to liquidate the remnants of the past and pledge to start anew. Recently, the "Vietnam Cultural Week,"(September 5-12) co-organized by Vietnam`s Ministry of Culture and Information and the Korea Foundation, was successfully presented at the Foundation`s new Cultural Center, which was officially opened on September 1 as venue to facilitate international cultural exchange. It is indeed a noteworthy development that such a successful event provided the two countries with a valuable opportunity to enhance mutual understanding based on cultural exchange.
    If the Korean people are asked what images they associate with Vietnam, the first might be "war"and the second hallyu (Korean Wave), or the popularity of Korean pop culture. Other images closely associated with Vietnam today might be the white ao dai(cheongsam) dress of women and hordes of mopeds and motorcycles cramming the streets. But still not so vivid as the image of war to Koreans, at least those in their 40s and older who maintain lingering images of helicopters flying low over jungles and the Korean troops dispatched to Vietnam. The somewhat younger generations in their mid-30s and younger, with hardly any personal memory about the Vietnam War, may think of Vietnam as a Southeast Asian country with people who are fascinated by Korean pop entertainers. On the other hand, what kinds of images of Korea do the Vietnamese people have? I would guess that war and hallyu might apply as well. Korea is probably thought of by the older generation as one of the enemy countries that participated in the war in which they won, while the younger generation thinks of Korea as the home country of the actors and singers that many Vietnamese have come to idolize.
    Korea and Vietnam encountered each other at a point in history when the East-West Cold War turned into all-out conflict, such that the tragedy of the Vietnam War will not be so easily forgotten in the near future. Nevertheless, it is fortunate that the younger generations of the two countries, who will eventually become the leaders of our countries, are getting to know each other through films and TV dramas, which portray human-interest stories. Hallyu, born out of popular culture trends, may vainly disappear some day like cotton candy, but it certainly has provided fertile soil for the Foundation`s various activities, in that it stimulates foreigners`s curiosity about the unknown country that is "Korea,"and its "People." Further development of hallyu will naturally be undertaken by the organizations and people with talent and ability, but I believe that the linking of this interest in Korea, arising from hallyu, to continuous learning and research of Korean history, culture, and art is a responsibility of the Korea Foundation. It is also necessary to make efforts to respect and properly understand the culture and traditions of other countries, like Vietnam, since genuine friendship and goodwill are not possible without mutual understanding.
    Above all, the establishment of the Foundation`s first-ever overseas offices is especially significant as vital resources for providing the organization`s management with relevant information for the more effective implementation of its various programs and activities. Along with serving as an on-site liaison for various cultural exchange programs currently being supported by the Foundation, the HoChiMinh City Office will also play the role of a catalyst to forge cooperative partnerships based on close understanding between the Foundation and related organizations in Vietnam. Although the relationship between Korea and Vietnam in the 20th century had been rather unfortunate, we are now at a starting point to build a positive bilateral relationship with a truly boundless future, while leaving the past behind us. Indeed, we can thank the younger generations for taking the first steps along this path.

●Address : KF HoChiMinh City Office
107 Nguyen Du St., District 1,
HoChiMinh City, Vietnam
●Tel : (84-8) 824-2639
●Fax : (84-8) 824-2593

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