South Korea erects statue of King Ly Thai To in North Gyeongsang province

On August 24, the event "Korea - Vietnam Global Exchange" was solemnly held at the Chunghyodang relic site in Bongseong commune, Bonghwa district, North Gyeongsang province, where relics of the Ly family of Vietnam are preserved.

Ceremony of offering flowers to enshrine the statue of King Ly Thai To - Photo: VNA

The event was hosted by Bonghwa district, the Vietnamese Embassy in Korea, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnamese Ly family in Korea to strengthen the foundation of cooperation and exchange between the local authorities and people of the two countries.

The event included the topping out ceremony of the Community Center, Vietnam Cultural Day and the installation ceremony of the statue of King Ly Thai To at the Vietnamese village space in Bonghwa.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Park Hyeon Guk, chairman of Bonghwa district, said that Bonghwa is the homeland of the Ly Dynasty royal family when they set foot in Gyrorio. This place has long been an invisible bridge for the friendship between the two peoples of Korea and Vietnam.

The 5.5-meter-high bronze statue of King Ly Thai To was invested by Bonghwa district with a total cost of up to 300 million won (214,000 USD).

The statue is shaped exactly like the 11m tall statue of King Ly Thai To currently located in the capital Hanoi , according to the Bac Ninh Province Electronic Information Portal.

The reason Bonghwa County erected the statue of King Ly Thai To stems from a deep and meaningful historical connection. Changpyeong-ri Village is the home of the Hwasan Lee clan, a clan that originated as descendants of King Ly Thai To.

“Earlier this month, we received permission from Vietnam to erect the statue. This is the first time a statue of Ly Thai To has been erected outside Vietnam,” a Bonghwa County official told the media.

The installation of the statue of King Ly Thai To in Bonghwa became a symbol of trust, friendship and common aspiration towards a prosperous future.

In addition, the statue's inauguration is part of a larger project.

Bonghwa County is currently in the process of building the “K-Vietnam Valley” on a 118,890 square meter plot of land around the Chung Hieu Duong area, with a total investment of 200 billion won (US$143 million). The project is expected to be completed in 2033.

The August 24 event was attended by about 800 people, including Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong, officials from the Ministry of Culture of Korea and North Gyeongsangbuk Province, Bonghwa County Chairman Park Hyeon Guk, Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea Vu Ho, and Vietnamese Consul General in Busan Doan Phuong Lan.

In addition, the event also gathered representatives of Vietnamese associations and a large Vietnamese community living, studying and working in Korea.

The series of events is considered a vivid demonstration of the intersection between tradition and modernity, between historical depth and contemporary vitality, contributing to further tightening the friendship and cooperation between the two peoples of Vietnam and Korea.

VNA - KHANH QUYNH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/han-quoc-dung-tuong-vua-ly-thai-to-tai-tinh-bac-gyeongsang-20250826140350736.htm