Consul General of South Korea in Ho Chi Minh City: I eat pho every week.

Pho S will be introduced to diners at the Vietnam Pho Festival in Seoul (South Korea) - Photo: QUANG DINH

Mr. Shin Choong Il, the South Korean consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, said this in an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper, while also "revealing" that he eats pho almost every week.

* Do you have any message you'd like to send to the guests who will be enjoying pho at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024?

- Vietnamese pho varies slightly from region to region, but I believe that each bowl of pho, with its broth simmered for a long time, embodies the sincere heart of the Vietnamese people. In particular, pho in Ho Chi Minh City and Southern Vietnam features a wide variety of vegetables, making it a healthy dish in my opinion.

Since assuming the position of Consul General of South Korea in Ho Chi Minh City in June 2023, I have consistently emphasized that South Korea and Vietnam not only have over 30 years of diplomatic relations but also a history of exchange spanning over 800 years. Above all, Koreans and Vietnamese people are very similar in many aspects of culture and sentiment.

I think that if Koreans eat while reflecting on the long history of cultural exchange and the similarities in sentiment between the two countries, they will be able to appreciate Vietnamese pho even more.

Mr. Shin Choong Il, Consul General of South Korea in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

* In what areas can Vietnam and South Korea cooperate through events like the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024?

- I am very pleased that the 2024 Vietnamese Pho Festival will be held in Seoul this year. First of all, I would like to extend my congratulations to Tuoi Tre newspaper, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Seoul city government for their cooperation in organizing this meaningful event.

I believe that South Korea and Vietnam can cooperate in many areas through events like the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024.

Firstly, the event will contribute to promoting cultural exchange between the two countries by introducing traditional Vietnamese dishes to South Korea.

Reportedly, around 20 different types of pho, along with many other delicious dishes, will be showcased at 35 stalls at this festival. This will be a special cultural event where Koreans can enjoy many different varieties of Vietnamese pho.

Secondly, events like this will foster greater mutual interest and understanding between the people of both countries, leading to more visits to each other's countries and an increase in tourism .

Thirdly, taking advantage of this event, if the South Korea-Vietnam business network is successfully connected in various fields such as food, agriculture, distribution, media, etc., it will be beneficial for future investment and trade cooperation.

I wish the 2024 Vietnamese Pho Festival great success!

Pho S, featuring Ngoc Linh ginseng pho, will be present in Seoul, South Korea, introducing the brand's unique pho dish at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024. (Produced by: THE KIET - MAI HUYEN)

* Koreans have been very successful in bringing their culture and cuisine to the world. Could you share your experience on how Korea has transformed its cuisine into an important economic sector, contributing to the promotion of tourism and international trade?

Thanks to the Korean culture craze (K-Culture), the image of Korean cuisine has become widely known throughout the world through various media such as television dramas and films.

Along with actively leveraging this trend based on popular culture, the South Korean government has also been making efforts to make Korean cuisine a global culinary trend, befitting South Korea's increasingly high national status and prestige.

The South Korean government uses the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as the central body to control, operate, and strive to build the brand of Korean cuisine.

Specifically, we use Big Data to build a positive image of Korean cuisine and leverage various opportunities to cater to consumer tastes. Notable examples include operating Korea House to promote Korean food at the 2024 Paris Olympics and Korean food cooking activities organized by diplomatic missions abroad.

Simultaneously, we are strengthening the infrastructure of the Korean food industry both domestically and internationally. We organize Korean cooking classes at renowned culinary schools overseas to train professional Korean chefs, while also digitizing and popularizing recipes for delicious Korean dishes to the public.

Regularly organizing international food events to promote Korean cuisine is also an important method. In this respect, I think an event like the Vietnam Pho Festival would be a good opportunity to actively promote Vietnamese cuisine.

Thank you, sir!

The Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 will take place on October 5th and 6th, 2024 at Pie Factory, 441 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (South Korea).

The program is co-organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea, Tuoi Tre newspaper, and Saigontourist Group, under the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and in coordination with the Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City, the General Association of Vietnamese in South Korea, the Association of Vietnamese Businesses in South Korea, and the Korea-Southeast Asia Economic Cooperation Association (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Korea).

The Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 features a performance stage, nearly 70 stalls, including over 40 stalls selling pho and other delicious Vietnamese and Korean dishes. In addition, there will be a cultural experience space, exhibitions, and presentations showcasing Vietnamese culinary culture and tourism.

With the slogan "Enjoy Pho, Discover Vietnam," the organizers of the Vietnam Pho Festival hope to create people-to-people diplomacy, promote friendly relations between the two countries, publicize culinary culture, and connect trade based on the economic and tourism potential of Vietnam and South Korea.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tong-lanh-su-han-quoc-tai-tp-hcm-tuan-nao-toi-cung-an-pho-20241003074613414.htm