From July 18 to 22, at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, Korea, and from July 23 to 26 at DTU, the 2023 ASEAN-Korea Youth Network Workshop was held under the theme of “Youth Shaping the Future: Building Enhanced Perceptions among the Younger Generation and Innovating Changes in Tourism”.
At the opening ceremony at DTU on July 24, attendees included Mr. Kim Hae-yong, Secretary-General of the ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC); Ambassador Vu Ho, Director-General, Acting ASEAN SOM; Mr. Nguyen Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of Da Nang City Department of Tourism; Distinguished teacher and Hero of Labor Le Cong Co, DTU Chairman; 48 students from ASEAN and Korea; DTU lecturers, staff and students.
Mr. Kim Hae-yong, Secretary-General of the AKC speaks
The aim of the workshop was to enable young people from ASEAN and Korea to share their thoughts and broaden their current perception of ASEAN-Korea relations, and exchange ideas on the development of innovative and sustainable tourism strategies.
Mr. Kim Hae-yong said: “Vietnam and Korea officially upgraded bilateral relations to establish a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, in December 2022. Last month, the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, with his delegation, paid a state visit to Vietnam. This was the first visit to Vietnam by the President, and Vietnam is the first Southeast Asian country he has visited since his inauguration, serving as a catalyst for opening a new chapter of bilateral cooperation. Since establishing a dialogue partnership in 1989, Korea and ASEAN have built a close and comprehensive relationship in many fields, such as economy, culture, society, and so on.
Danang is a city that adds to the attraction of Vietnam. 810 thousand Koreans came to Vietnam in the first quarter of 2023, and the city welcomed 1.4 million visitors and 390 thousand tourists, including many of the Koreans. Danang is very beautiful, with both mountainous areas and long beaches, including several ecotourism sites. I hope we can continue to take this opportunity to share ideas and, more importantly have fun, stay safe and have lasting memories.”
DTU, delegates and distinguished guests
During the 10-day workshops in Korea and Vietnam, participants visited institutions and conducted fieldwork in both Seoul and Danang on team assignments, on cultural exchanges and developing, new friendships.
In Danang, activities included lectures on ASEAN-Korea relations and on innovative and sustainable tourism, with visits to Hoi An Ancient Town, the Linh Ung pagoda, the Ngu Hanh Son Mountain and the Han market, to gather information and prepare their presentations.
48 students from ASEAN and Korea, with DTU students
Distinguished Teacher Le Cong Co said: “It’s a great honor for DTU to become the first university in Vietnam to host the ASEAN-Korea Youth Network Workshop, and learn more about the relationship between ASEAN and Korea, the two different cultures and education systems, in the context of globalization. We were also delighted when we were accepted as the local representative of the Passage to ASEAN (P2A) program by the ASEAN department. These meetings will create favorable conditions for person-to-person ties between Vietnam and Korea to develop even further, so that we can prosper together. I wish you a successful workshop.”
The AKC awarded 48 full scholarships to 20 Korean students and 28 to ASEAN students. The ASEAN-Korea Youth Network Workshop has been held annually since 2013 but was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Workshops will now be held between ASEAN countries and Korea every year, with diversified topics in line with current major global agendas.
Ambassador Vu Ho said: “I would like to send my congratulations in advance to DTU on the university's upcoming 30th anniversary in 2024. Congratulations on 30 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Korea. I believe that the number 30 is a special and impressive number to elevate the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Korea to new heights. The region's shared prosperity is inseparable from peace and stability, which cannot be achieved without dialogue and cooperation among countries or person-to-person communication, the most important factor in promoting mutual cooperation. Vietnam is honored to become a comprehensive strategic partner of Korea and I believe that both our ASEAN-Korean and bilateral cooperation relationships between Vietnam and Korea will continue to develop in all fields and bring practical benefits to the people and the business community of our two countries.”
(Media Center)