Promoting Public Diplomacy in Vietnam

Gwangju Delegation Visits Nghe An Province

By Park Yeonju

“Welcome: Gwangju International Center, Korea.” Each letter carefully written in Hangeul in a cute and meticulous style. These were the heartfelt words written by students of Binh Sejong Institute to welcome the group of citizens from Gwangju. Nghe An Province in Vietnam, a place you can reach in about six hours from Korea. What brought the citizens of Gwangju to visit this place? It was to engage in public diplomacy in Nghe An Province, Gwangju’s sister city in Vietnam. From November 6 to 11, the Gwangju Public Diplomacy Delegation carried out a variety of meaningful civilian diplomacy activities over six days.

In the first half of 2024, citizens from various countries and Gwangju gathered online. Over approximately 10 weeks, they met through Zoom meetings on Saturday mornings and afternoons to discuss the meaning of “public diplomacy.” They also shared information on their respective countries and cultures, explained topics such as social media trends and food culture, and enjoyed a closer connection with one another. The online public diplomacy was conducted through four channels: two in English, one in Chinese, and one in Japanese, allowing participants to freely discuss and engage.

Outstanding participants were selected among both foreign and Korean participants. The foreign participants were invited to Gwangju International Week. And the outstanding  participants from Korea became part of the Gwangju public diplomacy team to make the five-day, six-night journey. Not only these participants, but also a crafts instructor and a taekwondo instructor joined to enrich the diversity of the public diplomacy.

Public diplomacy was primarily conducted with a focus on university students. The first public diplomacy activity took place at the Korea-Vietnam Industrial Technology College. This college was established by KOICA to strengthen the development of technical manpower in Vietnam.

The first event at the Korea-Vietnam Industrial Technology College was a meeting with the university president and the head of the Korean Language Department. The session included self-introductions by the participants, a welcoming address from the president, and a ceremony to present Gwangju souvenirs.

Next, I introduced Gwangju to the university students. The prepared slide show provided an opportunity for the students to explore Gwangju online. Starting with basic information about Gwangju, I introduced the history of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the World Human Rights Cities Forum, and the beauty of Mudeung Mountain. I also highlighted diverse must-visit places in Gwangju, such as the Asia Culture Center, Sajik Park known for its illumination beauty, and the excellence of the Gwangju Biennale. Lastly, I introduced the “taste of Gwangju,” showcasing how the city offers joy across various fields.

After the students “explored” Gwangju, they began an immersive experience of Korean culture. The program consisted of stone seal-making and taekwondo classes. The students carefully engraved their Korean names onto the seals, completing their own first Korean name-seal. They also tried their hand at Korean calligraphy, writing Korean sentences and experiencing the beauty of the Korean script firsthand. The enthusiasm for the taekwondo class was also intense. With powerful shouts, students practiced everything from basic kicks to punches.

The next day, the destination was none other than Vinh University. There the public diplomacy team was divided into three groups to run different booths. The first was the Korean Traditional Culture Booth, where students could try on hanbok and experience Korean-style makeup. The second, inspired by a popular Korean Netflix series, was the Squid Game Booth, where students could play traditional Korean childhood games. Lastly, there was the Naming Studio booth, where participants could randomly draw a Korean name and write it on Korean hanji paper.

Shall we start with the Korean Traditional Culture Booth? Team members brought hanbok and allowed students to experience K-beauty by personally applying their makeup. After braiding their hair, they took polaroid photos of the students dressed in their hanbok. This was a space where students could deeply and beautifully experience Korean culture. To make the waiting time more enjoyable, the booth also featured the traditional Korean children’s game jegi-chagi (hacky sack). It was an engaging booth where students could experience the essence of Korean traditions in a condensed and exciting way. As prizes for the jegichagi game, Korean fortune purses, yakgwa (traditional Korean sweets), and face masks were given out.

Shall we move on to the Squid Game Booth next? The booth operators wore Squid Game costumes. The costumes created an even more immersive atmosphere. Their outfits drew the students’ attention, making it feel as if they were in the world of squid game. This booth offered dynamic activities with the students, such as ttakji-chigi (slap-match) and mugunghwa kkotchi pieossseumnida (무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다 / The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed) to share the joy of traditional Korean games. In addition to these games, the booth also featured K-pop quizzes and dialect quizzes.

Now, it’s time to take home your very own Korean name! Let’s finish by visiting the Naming Studio. Experiencing a Korean-style name feels truly creative. “What will my name be today?” the Vietnamese students were asked. With excitement and anticipation, the students picked their own beautiful Korean names. Each paper revealed not only the Korean name but also its meaning. That moment will be meaningful and memorable for many of the students. Writing their unique name on hanji paper, the students had the chance to fully appreciate and understand the beauty of the Korean script.

A promotional booth for the Gwangju International Center was also set up. After the students tried out each of the other booths, they could receive some giveaways at this GIC booth. Through the event of following the Gwangju International Center’s Instagram account, the booth contributed to promoting networking opportunities. This booth served as a platform to introduce Gwangju and the Gwangju International Center to the students.

On this day, both Gwangju citizens and Nghe An Province citizens came together in harmony through Korean culture. The Gwangju team’s public diplomacy efforts also served as a valuable opportunity to strengthen the bond between Gwangju and its sister city, Nghe An Province.

Even if not grand in scale, many ways were developed to promote Korea and Gwangju. It was an opportunity to introduce Korea to the Vietnamese by Gwangju citizens. Moreover, it was a moment when Gwangju perfectly fulfilled its role in stepping onto the global stage. This was all due to the power of public diplomacy created by the Gwangju International Center and the citizens of Gwangju.

For the students of the Korea-Vietnam Technology College, Vinh University, and Vinh Sejong Institute, we hope this public diplomacy remains a cherished memory. We also look forward to a time when we are able to engage with these students again. The memories between Gwangju Metropolitan City, Korea, and Nghe An Province, Vietnam, continue to shine brightly.

Photographs by Gwangju International Center.