Seminar talks Vietnamese, Korean literature

HCM City (VNA) – A seminar featuring literature of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) was held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 23.

The event, attended by nearly 100 delegates from the RoK’s Dongni – Mogwol Memorial Association and the Ho Chi Minh City Writers’ Association (HWA), forms part of the activities of the  Ho Chi Minh City – Gyeongju World Cultural Festival 2017.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Tran Van Tuan, HWA President highlighted cultural similarities between Vietnam and the RoK, saying that the RoK’s miracle economic development has provided valuable lessons on development and international integration for Vietnam and HCM City.

Korean literary and art works available in Vietnam and the world have inspired Vietnamese authors to modernise their writing styles, Tuan said.

Head of the Dongni-Mogwol Memorial Society Ju Han tae described the event as an opportunity for both nations to learn about each other’s time-honoured history and culture, thus strengthening friendship and cultural exchange for the common prosperity of the East Asian region.

The event also helps writers of the two countries understand more about each other’s literature and share experience. It also opens up new opportunities for cultural exchanges while consolidating further the relationship between Vietnam and the RoK.

Nguyen Quang Thieu, Director of Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House said the RoK has shown keen interest in Vietnamese literature while Vietnamese authors have regularly attended literary activities held in the RoK.

Several Vietnamese authors have been honoured and have had their works published in the RoK, namely Bao Ninh, Le Minh Khue, and Nguyen Ngoc Tu, while a number of Korean literary works have been translated into Vietnamese and published in Vietnam.-VNA