President Lee Meets Korean Community in Vietnam: "Korea-Vietnam Cooperation to Become More Future-Oriented and Strategic"... Nuclear Power and Infrastructure Partnership to Expand (Comprehensive)

Luncheon Meeting with Korean Community in Vietnam

"Vietnam, a Top Three Trading Partner and Core All-Around Collaborator"

"Overcoming Foreign Intervention, Shared Pain of Division... Swift Resolution for Community Difficulties"

"Both Nations Love Football... I Was Once a Club Owner, Now Falsely Accused"

Korean Association President: "A Meaningful Milestone for Shaping Our Shared Future"

Hanoi Boys and Girls Choir Performs the Children's Song 'Mungge Cloud'

"Through this state visit to Vietnam, we aim to develop our current top-tier cooperative relationship into one that is even more future-oriented and strategic."

President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a state visit to Vietnam, expressed his commitment to strengthening cooperation between Korea and Vietnam during a luncheon meeting with the Korean community held in Hanoi on the 22nd (local time). During this visit, President Lee plans to meet with Vietnam's leadership, including General Secretary To Lam, who also serves as President, to expand cooperation in strategic fields such as nuclear power, infrastructure, and scientific and technological innovation. He also intends to deepen collaboration on global challenges such as supply chain stability, sustainable growth, and response to climate change.

President Lee Jae-myung, currently on a state visit to Vietnam, is delivering a greeting speech at a Korean community meeting held at a hotel in Hanoi on the 22nd (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

President Lee said, "It is truly meaningful for me to meet you as the first official event of my visit to Vietnam," and continued, "Korea and Vietnam share similarities in having endured foreign intervention, overcoming it through our own strength, suffering from the pain of division and war, and eventually rising again after hardship." He went on to mention the emotional bonds and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries, saying, "Thanks to this mutual goodwill and exchange, we have achieved tremendous progress in just a single generation since establishing diplomatic ties in 1992."

President Lee also presented numerical data to illustrate the bilateral relationship. He said, "The two countries are among each other's top three trading partners. Last year, bilateral trade reached 94.6 billion dollars, and Korea is Vietnam's largest investor, with 10,000 Korean companies operating locally." He added, "On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2022, our relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, making us key partners working together across all sectors."

In particular, President Lee pointed out that last year, General Secretary To Lam of the Communist Party of Vietnam was the first foreign head of state to pay a state visit to Korea after the new Korean government was inaugurated. Now, after the launch of Vietnam's new leadership, he himself is the first head of state to make a state visit, saying, "This alone shows just how special the relationship between Vietnam and Korea is."

President Lee also mentioned Vietnamese football. He said, "Don't Vietnamese people love football just as much as Koreans do?" and referred to Kim Sang-sik, the head coach of Vietnam's national football team. He added, "Recently, the Vietnamese football team achieved 13 consecutive wins—the first Southeast Asian team to do so—and entered the top 100 in the FIFA men's world rankings at 99th place." President Lee then remarked, "I myself was once the owner of a football club, but while trying to make it successful, I ended up being falsely accused and am now standing trial," drawing laughter. He added, "Football has the power to unite all members as one body and one heart."

President Lee also shared his expectations for the Vietnamese Korean community, which now numbers about 200,000. He said, "The Korean community in Vietnam, which has grown to about 200,000 people, is the largest in ASEAN and the fifth largest Korean community in the world. The sweat and dedication of everyone here—from those in culture and sports, to expatriates, small business owners, young entrepreneurs, students, and senior members—have built today's solid Vietnam-Korea relationship." He also noted, "The 100,000 or so Korea-Vietnam multicultural families are a precious foundation connecting the two countries by blood."

He then expressed his intention to support Koreans in Vietnam. President Lee stated, "Our government of people's sovereignty will do its utmost to carefully address and swiftly resolve the difficulties faced by overseas multicultural families," and promised, "We will listen carefully to the voices of Koreans in Vietnam and look after your needs." He added that about 1,400 suggestions have been received from Korean communities worldwide, noting that support for Korean schools, visa issues, improvements to consular and embassy services, and support for Korean textbooks were the most common requests.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, who are on a state visit to Vietnam, are receiving a bouquet of flowers from a flower girl at a Korean community meeting held at a hotel in Hanoi on the 22nd (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, Yang Mose, President of the Korean Association in Hanoi, also expressed his anticipation in his welcoming remarks, saying that President Lee's state visit is "a meaningful milestone for reflecting on the path that Korea and Vietnam have walked together and for envisioning the future together." President Yang said, "Since diplomatic relations were established in 1992, bilateral trade has grown about 180-fold in just over 30 years, and Korea has become one of Vietnam's largest investors, with 5 million people traveling between the two countries annually." He added, "Now, the two countries are designing their future together as comprehensive strategic partners, not only in the economy but also in culture, education, and security."

President Yang continued, "Each and every Korean resident here is an important protagonist who is enhancing the name of the Republic of Korea in your respective fields," and requested, "We ask for warm interest and policy support for the legal protection of overseas Koreans, support for children's education, and improvement of the local business environment." He also emphasized, "Korean residents abroad are not simply Koreans living overseas; they are valuable assets who enhance Korea's national prestige and expand its economic frontier. I hope the President's state visit will serve as a milestone signaling a new leap forward in Korea-Vietnam relations."

President Lee Listens to Community Stories: "We Will Consider a System to Reflect Your Opinions More Effectively"

During the subsequent meeting, three community representatives—Pham Thi Nua, Vice Chair of the Legal and Administrative Committee of the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation in Vietnam; Lee Yongdeuk, Vice President of the Hanoi Korea-Vietnam Family Association; and Jung Yewon, President of the Hanoi Korean Student Association—shared their local experiences and thoughts.

Vice Chair Pham Thi Nua said, "Though I was born in Vietnam, after starting a family with my Korean husband 28 years ago, I have come to consider Korea my second home. I will continue to do my best to serve as a civil diplomat bridging Korea and Vietnam." Vice President Lee Yongdeuk introduced, "There are 8,000 Korea-Vietnam families in Vietnam, and 40% of the students in the elementary section of the Hanoi Korean International School are second-generation Korea-Vietnam children," expressing his hope that these second-generation children will grow into true bridges between the two countries and asking for strong support.

Jung Yewon, President of the Hanoi Korean Student Association, introduced the diverse roles of the association in protecting the rights and welfare of students, supporting summit interpretation, and assisting with on-site tasks for overseas elections. He commented, "I hope the government will provide a strong institutional safety net so that students studying abroad can grow into global talents."

After listening to the community members, President Lee said, "The partnership between Korea and Vietnam, sharing experiences of overcoming adversity and making progress, is not a coincidence but an inevitable result forged by all of you." He added, "Even though you are physically away from Korea, you care deeply and worry about your homeland. The government will continue to support you so that you can operate in a more stable environment." He also expressed his intention to consider a system that would better reflect the opinions of overseas Koreans.

Meanwhile, during the cultural performance at the meeting, the Hanoi Boys and Girls Choir performed the children's song "Mungge Cloud," and the Hanoi Traditional Korean Music Institute "Sori Dongne" presented a medley of "Arirang."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.