Touch Korean - Connecting hearts

On October 23, Korean Literature Day 2025 was held at Van Lang University (HCMC), aiming to enhance cultural exchange and understanding between Korea and Vietnam.

Mr. Kwon Tae Han, Acting Consul General, Consulate General of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City (2nd from left), with Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, Principal of Van Lang University (3rd from left) and guests - Photo: MAI NGUYET

The famous poem by poet Kim Chun Su was quoted by Mr. Kwon Tae Han, Acting Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, in his opening speech as an affirmation of the power of words in connecting people and cultures.

"When I called her name she came to me and became the flower of my heart."

He shared: "The act of naming is the power of language, and also the starting point of understanding. When language crosses boundaries, it becomes a dialogue between two cultures, where understanding and respect are cultivated. That is also the beauty of literary translation."

The Korean Literature Day 2025 event was organized by the Faculty of Korean Language and Culture in collaboration with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Van Lang University, with the support of the Korean Literature Translation Institute, the Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association and Nha Nam Publishing House.

Mr. Kwon Tae Han, Acting Consul General, Consulate General of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, speaking - Photo: MAI NGUYET

Writer Trinh Bich Ngan, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, participated in the program - Photo: MAI NGUYET

Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Thu Hien (University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM) shares her paper on applying literature in teaching and research - Photo: MAI NGUYET

With the theme "Touching Korean Literature - Connecting Hearts", the program includes two main parts: the discussion "Korean - Vietnamese Translated Literature" and the award ceremony of the contest "Writing Korean Literature Review 2025".

The discussion was attended by Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Thu Hien (University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU-HCM), Dr. Nguyen Thi Hien, writer Huynh Trong Khang (Nha Nam Publishing House) and translator Minh Quyen.

Responding to Tuoi Tre Online , Dr. Nguyen Thi Hien - head of the Korean language and culture department - said:

"Korean Literature Day is part of a series of activities to promote Korean literature in Vietnam that Van Lang University and the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association have maintained for many years."

She added: "We hope to build a community, a literary playground for Vietnam and Korea to understand each other better. Today's event also opens up steps for deeper cooperation in the future."

In just one month, this year's contest received more than 300 entries from students and literature lovers across the country.

Three works were chosen as exam questions including Human Nature (Han Kang), Korean Encyclopedia of Demons and Ghosts (Ko Seong Bae) and Today I Got Angry at You Again (Jang Hae Joo) - Photo: Publishing House

Huynh Tu Han, who wrote about the work Today I'm Angry With My Mother by Jang Hae Jo, shared with Tuoi Tre Online the reason for participating: "I like simple stories about family. When reading Korean literature, I see many similarities with Vietnamese life, especially in the mother-child relationship."

Not only an academic activity, Korean Literature Day 2025 is also an opportunity for literature to become an emotional bridge, bringing young people of the two countries closer together through written pages, while preserving lasting values ​​between Vietnam and Korea.

Results of the contest 'Writing Korean Literature Review 2025'

First Prize: Ngo Thuan Phat - Human Nature (Han Kang).

Second prize: Nguyen Thanh Nhan - Korean Demons ( Ko Seong Bae), Duong Thi Ut Giau - Human nature.

Third and consolation prizes: More than 10 contestants from many universities across the country were named, with articles expressing diverse and emotional perspectives on Korean literature.

MAI NGUYET

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cham-van-han-ket-noi-trai-tim-20251024000658379.htm