Vietnamese women who married into Korean families showcase traditional dancing at a community centre in Sejong City on October 30, 2019. Photo YONHAP

HÀ NỘI — Photos from the national archives of Việt Nam and South Korea are on a display in Hà Nội.

The exhibition entitled 30 Year of Co-operation Between Việt Nam and the Republic of Korea is co-hosted by Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Yonhap News Agency.

Some of 150 photos including 60 large-sized photos selected from the national archives of VNA and YONHAP introduce to the public milestones recorded during 30 years of Việt Nam and South Korea bilateral co-operation in trade, investment, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges in the context of the two countries elevating the bilateral relationship to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership".

In her opening remarks, VNA General Director Vũ Việt Trang said the exhibition is a space that reflects the outcomes of such cooperation, including important milestones and historical moments in bilateral ties over the past three decades.

It is also a testament to the effective professional cooperation between VNA and Yonhap which practically contributes to strengthening the friendship and understanding between the two peoples on the basis of common interests and similarities in history and traditional culture, Trang noted. 

She expressed her belief that the images on display will give the public an insight into the history of the close relationship between the two countries, outstanding events and achievements that they have recorded, and important contributions that the people and businesses of Việt Nam and the RoK have made in social and economic development.

President and CEO of Yonhap Seong Ghi-hong said that the photo exhibition is a highlight in a series of activities co-organised by the two news agencies to mark the founding anniversary of the Việt Nam – RoK diplomatic ties.

The imprints reviewed through the photos displayed at the exhibition can be considered a motivation for the two sides to further expand the bilateral relationship and promote cooperation in the future, he stressed.

The bilateral relations have recorded important achievements in almost all fields - politics, economy, culture, society, and education. Notably, the RoK is one of Việt Nam's most important economic partners, especially in direct investment, development cooperation, labour, tourism and trade.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is the photo taken by a VNA photojournalist of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyễn Mạnh Cầm and Korean Foreign Minister Lee Sang-ok signing a Joint Statement to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries in Hà Nội on December 22, 1992.

Others photos by VNA are images of Vietnamese and South Korean top leaders announcing the establishment of a "Comprehensive Partnership in the 21st Century" in 2001 and issuing a joint statement to lift bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022.

Through the photos, visitors can see the historical moments where the countries began their diplomatic ties, the current status of their diplomatic and economic co-operation, as well as the boom of Korean culture in Việt Nam.

At the exhibition, YONHAP introduces photos from different perspectives of life such as social, economic development, culture, sport, and art.

In 1996, YONHAP took the photo featuring Korean and Vietnamese delegates taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Daewoo Hotel in Hà Nội on October 30. This was the first five-star hotel in the capital. It has received so far more than 200 top leaders and high-ranking officers from around the world.

A photo taken in the central province of Quảng Bình depicts a person of the Chút group in Arem Village, Tân Trạch Commune, Bố Trạch District receiving an artificial arm under a Việt Nam - RoK post-war bomb and landmine recovery project.

YONHAP's photos also present people-to-people exchange between Vietnamese and Korean. The photo taking in 2019 features Vietnamese women who married into Korean families performing traditional dancing at a community centre in Sejong City.

Another photo snaps happy smile of a naturalised Korean citizen from Việt Nam cast her ballot for the first time in a local election with her husband in Jeju.

A photo by VNA's Trọng Đạt of coach Park-Hang seo and Vietnamese national team.

The display also features photos of football coach Park Hang-seo and Vietnamese team. Park makes important contributions to the achievements of Vietnamese men’s national football squads with impressive trophies, winning the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018, and finishing runner-up in the U23 Asia Football Confederation (AFC) Championship 2018.

The same exhibition was held in Seoul in March.

Admission is free, and the event runs until December 21 at 45 Tràng Tiền Street. VNS