South Korean and Vietnamese representatives take part in a ribbon cutting event to inaugurate the Consulate General of Korea in Đà Nẵng. The office aims to boost tourism and investment between Korea and central Việt Nam. — VNS Photo Lê Lâm

ĐÀ NẴNG — South Korea officially inaugurated its Consulate General in Đà Nẵng on Friday, aiming to boost tourism and investment between S Korea and central Việt Nam in the coming years.

It is the second South Korean Consular General to be opened in Việt Nam after HCM City.

S Korean Ambassador to Việt Nam Park Noh Wan said Đà Nẵng would become a centre for cultural exchange and traditional friendship between the two countries.

He said COVID-19 had stopped Korean tourists from travelling to Việt Nam, but Đà Nẵng promised to be a popular destination in the future.

He said the resumption of flights between Việt Nam and South Korea had been discussed during a visit by the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s National Assembly Deputy Park Byeong-seug to Việt Nam earlier this week.

The Korean Consulate Office, located in Ngũ Hành Sơn District, will cover administration across Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi and Thừa Thiên-Huế to promote tourism and investment connections between world heritage sites in central Việt Nam with popular destinations including Jeju Island, Incheon, Seoul and other parts of S Korea.

On the occasion, the Korean side also donated US$20,400 to help flood victims in Thừa Thiên Huế and Quảng Ngãi provinces.

Last month, Korea’s LG Electronics began building a R&D centre – the second of its kind in Việt Nam – at the Đà Nẵng Information Technology Park Tower.

In 2018, the South Korea Trade and Investment Agency (KOTRA) also debuted its representative office in Đà Nẵng.

South Korea helped Đà Nẵng build the Việt Nam-Korea Friendship Information Technology College with Official Development Aid (ODA) of $10 million from the South Korean government in 2014.

According to the city’s Investment Promotion Agency, Korea was one of the top five foreign investors in Đà Nẵng with 232 projects worth $390 million.

Đà Nẵng’s export turnover reached $17 million – marking growth of 14.5 per cent – in the first half this year, while imports from Korea totalled $36.5 million.

Earlier this year, Shilla Hotels & Resorts – a new flagship hospitality corporation in South Korea – opened Shilla Monogram Đà Nẵng with an investment of $50 million.

Both Vietnamese and South Korean airlines used to operate 12 flights weekly between South Korean cities and Đà Nẵng, but COVID-19 has suspended tourism links between the countries. — VNS