Seoul (VNA) – The first-ever writing contest featuring Vietnamese students in the Republic of Korea (RoK) was held at Kyung Hee University in Seoul on December 6, becoming a highlight in efforts to foster cultural ties between the two countries.
The event was jointly organised by the Korea–Vietnam Culture Communication Centre (KCCC), the G&M Global Foundation and the Bong&Seol Initiative.
Contestants were required to complete three stages: an essay in Korean (2,000–3,000 words), and an online interview. A total of 18 contestants from universities across the RoK were selected for the final, where they delivered a Korean-language presentation summarising their essay.
The finalists shared a wide range of experiences during their stay in the RoK — from warm encounters and positive first impressions of Korean culture to challenges, prejudice, and homesickness.
KCCC Director Kim Young Shin noted that Vietnamese students form the largest international student community in the RoK. Vietnam and the RoK share many cultural similarities, she said, making it essential to support and nurture well-educated younger generations for the future.
The contest, she added, aims to promote mutual understanding through students’ authentic voices, strengthen connections and psychological well-being within the Vietnamese student community, highlight their positive contributions to the host society, preserve their educational journeys as valuable material.
The judging panel awarded one special prize, three first prizes, six second prizes, eight third prizes, and 12 consolation prizes.
The KCCC was established to promote research on Vietnamese culture, strengthen RoK–Vietnam cultural exchange and contribute to multicultural development in the RoK./.
