Bearing the blood of Vietnam in his veins, and with a spirit of solidarity and mutual support, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hoa, originally from Trieu An commune, Trieu Phong district, and other young people from Quang Tri in South Korea have joined hands to create meaningful activities directed towards their homeland. Mr. Hoa is currently the Chairman of the Vietnamese Community Football Association in Southern South Korea, Head of the Organizing Committee of the Quang Tri Hometown Football Tournament in South Korea, and has organized many charity tournaments to raise funds to help those in difficult circumstances in his hometown.
Nguyen Quang Hoa is a person who strives to connect and organize many sports activities for the Vietnamese community in South Korea - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
The turning point for labor export.
Nguyen Quang Hoa (born in 1985) comes from a disadvantaged family. After finishing high school, Hoa quickly learned to help his parents with household chores. In 2011, Hoa went to South Korea as a migrant worker after deciding not to continue his education.
In his new homeland, the young man became familiar with manual labor jobs, while also beginning to adapt to life as a young person far from family and hometown. He recounted that, on weekends, Vietnamese people living and working near each other would often go to the public football field to play, socialize, and meet each other. After exercising, the young people would inquire about each other's health and encourage each other to live well in a foreign country...
A few years later, more Vietnamese people went to South Korea to live and work. In particular, in the southern region of South Korea, an increasing number of young people from Quang Tri province, like Nguyen Quang Hoa, came to live there through labor export programs.
Mr. Hoa (far left) with Vietnamese athletes and supporters at the Ulsan University of Foreigners Vietnam (UIVC) 2023 - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
Seeing the joy of the people of Quang Tri after each reunion in a foreign place, Hoa nurtured the idea of uniting them into a community to do more meaningful things together...
Efforts to unite and develop football in the Vietnamese community.
In 2017, through social media, Quang Hoa connected with many young people from Quang Tri and planned to organize a get-together. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2017, Hoa and some friends organized a football exchange program and the first-ever Quang Tri hometown reunion in Ulsan, South Korea.
He recounted that at that time, two football teams were formed: the South Song Hieu team and the North Song Hieu team. After the football match, 300 people from Quang Tri living in South Korea reunited and held their first Quang Tri hometown association meeting in South Korea. This is considered the foundation for the Quang Tri Hometown Football Cup in South Korea. After the first meeting and football exchange, everyone was emotional and nostalgic when they parted ways, moved by the sense of camaraderie among fellow countrymen in a foreign land.
In the years that followed, Quang Hoa and other people from Quang Tri living far from home worked hard to connect on social media, creating an increasingly strong community. He frequently initiated friendly football matches between fellow countrymen from various districts of Quang Tri province who were living and working in southern South Korea.
In 2019, Mr. Hoa organized a larger tournament for his fellow countrymen compared to 2017. This occasion also served as a gathering of players, assessing their work situation and their ability to maintain training and competition. His meticulous work in every aspect and his dedication have built strong trust among the players and fellow Quang Tri natives whenever they meet.
In 2022, the Quang Tri Hometown Football Cup in South Korea was held for the second time in Ulsan City, South Korea. Many spectators commented that it was truly an exciting tournament, a playground showcasing the spirit of solidarity and excitement of the people from the windy, sandy region of Laos.
The Quang Tri Hometown Football Cup in South Korea is a meaningful playground for people from Quang Tri living far from home - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
In 2023, the tournament underwent several changes to improve its quality, with 200 players from four teams participating: Gio Linh, Vinh Linh, Trieu Phong, and the combined team (from other districts and towns of Quang Tri province). Mr. Hoa shared: “The happiest thing is that each tournament receives the enthusiastic participation of players and fans from Quang Tri in South Korea. Especially noteworthy is the attention and legal support from relevant authorities; the companionship of many sponsors, organizations, and individuals from Quang Tri in South Korea as well as back home.”
This is what contributed to the success of the Quang Tri Hometown Football Cup and subsequently the Quang Tri Hometown Association Meeting in South Korea. Creating and maintaining a regular playing field for Quang Tri people living far from home is also a heartfelt wish of mine and the organizing committee. I think these activities help people find more motivation and joy to strive harder in their work and business, and alleviate their homesickness.”
Heading towards home
Besides organizing amateur football for the Quang Tri community, Mr. Hoa also organizes annual football programs for the Vietnamese community in South Korea and manages a Facebook page called "VCF - Vietnamese Football Community in South Korea". He is currently the President of the Vietnamese Community Football Association in South Korea, with over 1,000 members. Established in June 2023, the association is currently quite active, organizing numerous tournaments as well as meaningful charity and social programs.
To date, the association has 24 Vietnamese football teams operating in the southern provinces of South Korea. Also in June 2023, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hoa and other passionate individuals joined hands to organize the first Vietnamese Community Football Tournament in Southern South Korea. Along with that, they also organized charitable programs and fundraising tournaments aimed at supporting their homeland, Vietnam in general and Quang Tri province in particular.
In particular, the expanded Four-Team Football Cup tournaments aimed at supporting people in Central Vietnam in 2017, 2020, and 2021 were organized. In 2020, when Central Vietnam was hit by floods, Mr. Hoa, along with the Quang Tri Association in South Korea, partnered with the Green Road 9 Cycling Club of Quang Tri to distribute 1,000 gift packages to people in the severely affected districts of the province. In addition, the association regularly contacts the Vietnam Red Cross to provide support to those in their hometowns who are facing difficulties, illness, or accidents.
The football matches organized help connect the Quang Tri community in South Korea - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
Mr. Hoa added: "In the future, we will try to maintain the activities we have already done so that the association will grow stronger and more complete, becoming a common home for people from Quang Tri living far from home."
In future gatherings, the organizers will expand the program. In addition to football matches and hometown reunions, there will be more traditional Vietnamese games; and cultural performances to further strengthen the bond among the Quang Tri community in South Korea. Furthermore, we will actively contact and connect with volunteer teams from many provinces and cities to have more activities aimed at helping those in need.”
Hoai Diem Chi
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