Mr. Kwon Tae Han, Acting Consul General of the Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City (second from the left), along with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, Rector of Van Lang University (third from the left), and other guests - Photo: MAI NGUYET
The famous poem by poet Kim Chun Su was quoted by Mr. Kwon Tae Han, Acting Consul General of the Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, in his opening remarks 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 words, and also the starting point of understanding. When words transcend boundaries, they become a dialogue between two cultures, where understanding and respect are cultivated. That is also the beauty of literary translation."
The 2025 Korean Literature Day event is organized by the Department 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 Consulate General of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, and Nha Nam Publishing House.
Mr. Kwon Tae Han, Acting Consul General of the Korean Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, giving a speech - Photo: MAI NGUYET
Writer Trinh Bich Ngan, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association, participated in the program - Photo: MAI NGUYET
Professor Phan Thi Thu Hien (Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City) shared her paper on the application of literature in teaching and research - Photo: MAI NGUYET
With the theme "Touching Korean Literature - Connecting Hearts," the program consists of two main parts: a panel discussion on "Korean-Vietnamese Translated Literature" and the awards ceremony for the "Writing a Review of Korean Literature 2025" competition.
The panel 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.
In an interview with Tuoi Tre Online , Dr. Nguyen Thi Hien, head of the Department of Korean Language and Culture, stated:
"Korean Literature Day is part of a series of activities promoting 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 platform, for Vietnam and Korea to understand each other better. Today's event also opens the door to deeper cooperation in the future."
In just one month, this year's competition received over 300 entries from students and literature enthusiasts across the country.
The three works selected as exam questions were *The Nature of Man* (Han Kang), *The Encyclopedia of Demons - Korean Hundred Demons* (Ko Seong Bae), and *Today I'm Angry at My Mother Again* (Jang Hae Joo) - Photo: Publisher
Huynh Tu Han, who wrote about Jang Hae Jo's work "Today I'm Angry at My Mother Again ," shared with Tuoi Tre Online her reason for participating: "I like simple stories about family. When reading Korean literature, I find many similarities to Vietnamese life, especially in the mother-child relationship."
More than just an academic event, Korean Literature Day 2025 is also an opportunity for literature to become an emotional bridge, bringing young people from both countries closer together through writing, while preserving enduring values between Vietnam and Korea.
Results of the 'Writing a Review of Korean Literature 2025' contest.
First prize: Ngo Thuan Phat - The Nature of Man (Han Kang).
Second prize: Nguyen Thanh Nhan - Korean Hundred Demons ( Ko Seong Bae), Duong Thi Ut Giau - The Nature of Man.
Third Prize and Honorable Mention: Awarded to over 10 contestants from various universities across the country, with essays showcasing diverse and emotionally rich perspectives on Korean literature.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cham-van-han-ket-noi-trai-tim-20251024000658379.htm
![[Photo] General Secretary To Lam working with Ambassadors and Heads of Vietnamese representative offices abroad attending the 14th National Congress of the Party](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvphoto.vietnam.vn%2Fthumb%2F1200x675%2Fvietnam%2Fresource%2FIMAGE%2F2026%2F01%2F25%2F1769334314499_image.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Comment (0)