South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon visited the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi and met with Phan Chi Hieu, Director of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

Park is one of the members of the Korean delegation visiting Vietnam led by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

During the working session, the two sides discussed issues of cooperation in scientific research, development of international cooperation, organization of exhibitions between museums and promotion of cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Park visited the Korean Room and the exhibition area of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam. Examining the artifacts on display, he expressed interest in the cultural life of Vietnam's ethnic groups and the results of the Vietnam-South Korea cooperation project presented at the museum.

South Korea’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon visits Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Photo courtesy of the museum

He pointed out some of the cultural similarities between Korea and Vietnam, such as funeral rituals, traditional musical instruments, the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lunar New Year...

"Vietnam Ethnological Museum is the most interesting, wonderful, and impressive in Vietnam. Upon my return to Korea, I will definitely introduce this museum to Koreans for a visit," he said.

On the same day, Minister Park met with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung.

Hung urged the two ministries to promote traditional cooperation in accordance with the principles and activities outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two sides.

Hung repeatedly emphasized promoting the role of Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families. According to President Yoon Suk Yeol, there are about 87,000 Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families in South Korea. The two countries share the same goal of building progressive, prosperous and happy families. Therefore, Hung urged that there should be activities to encourage Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families to promote their role in the preservation and promotion of the traditional and modern cultural values of the two countries.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung presents Minister Park Bo Gyoon with a gift. Photo: Dinh Toan/The Hanoi Times

Hung expected Korea to help Vietnam develop cinema and performing arts.

He also hoped that Vietnam and Korea will soon have a joint idol group composed of Vietnamese and Korean singers. This group will perform cultural and people-to-people exchange activities between the two countries. It will also be a bridge contributing to the development of cultural and tourism cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea.

At the meeting, Park expressed his happiness that the cooperation in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism is going well.

"Vietnam and Korea are sailing on a cultural 'boat' together. Korea has always been aware of Vietnam's efforts to develop an advanced culture imbued with national identity," said Park Bo Gyoon.

Park Bo Gyoon also affirmed that Korea is willing to share experiences and assist Vietnam in cultural development in order to implement the joint statement on cooperation between the two countries and the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two sides.