Korean Professor and his love for Vietnam

TIN LIÊN QUAN
	Vietnam, RoK step up tourism ties
	Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh to pay official visit to RoK

Professor Lee Yong Hy was born in 1929, and after graduating from the Korea Maritime and Ocean University he served in the army for 7 years. From 1957 to 1971, he worked as a journalist for the Hapdong News Agency and the Chosun Daily. After that, he worked at the Department of Asian Studies at California University in Berkeley (U.S.) and Hanyang University until his retirement in 1995. Throughout his life and career, Prof. Lee Yong Hy has made many contributions in the field of public diplomacy, contributing to building and promoting the friendship between Vietnam and Korea.

Professor Lee Yong Hy. (Photo: Nguyen Trai University)

Recently, Nguyen Trai University (Ha Noi) and the Vietnam-South Korea Friendship Association jointly held a talk titled "The life of Professor Lee Yong Hy and Vietnam", celebrating the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and South Korea. The attendance of the professor’s spouse and daughter helped Vietnamese students and readers learn more about the fascinating South Korean man.

Concerns over the Vietnam War

Formerly in charge of foreign affairs under the Politics Department at the Chosun Daily, journalist Lee Yong Hy was appointed to the International Department in 1965. During this time, he was always anxious when thinking about the poverty and suffering endured by the Vietnamese people during the war.

At the time, the Chosun Daily was the only newspaper in South Korea to criticise the RoK army for its participation in the Vietnam War and also oppose the war generally. Here, Lee Yong Hy sought to introduce his anti-war comments to intellectuals around the world carefully and ingeniously.

During the period between 1966 and 1967, the RoK had a policy of sending news agency reporters to Saigon to shape public opinion towards the idea that ‘Vietnamese people welcome Korean soldiers to fight in the Vietnam War’. As part of this policy, Lee Yong Hy was invited to spend a month as a special envoy in Sai Gon, but he refused to come to Vietnam to perform this task.

According to his spouse, Yun Young Ja, he was fired because of this refusal. Later, despite his shift to university teaching, he continued to write articles on the war in Vietnam. These articles contributed to changing South Korean perceptions of the unlawful and unethical war in Vietnam, and he continued even though he was arrested in 1977 and sentenced to two years in prison. He was also active in the development and operation of the anti-Vietnam war movement.

Sending a message of justice

Prof. Lee Yong Hy was not discouraged, and after years of fighting was finally able to enjoy the happiness of the liberation of Vietnam in 1975. A decade after the war ended, in 1985, he collected his articles and published a book titled ‘The Vietnam War’.

Prof. Lee Yong Hy's spouse and daughter at the talk. (Photo: Nguyen Trai University)

Lee Yong Hy arrived in Vietnam for the first time in 1993, and met with the people he only knew and admired through the pages he had written. And now, his wife and daughter have visited Vietnam on his behalf. They came to Vietnam not only to share Lee Yong Hy’s legacy, but also gave signed books to Vietnamese students and readers.

To former Ambassador to RoK and Vice President of the Vietnam-South Korea Friendship Association, Pham Tien Van, this special exchange expresses Vietnam’s deepest gratitude and appreciation to Prof. Lee Yong Hy for his lifelong contributions to the country. At the talk, he also reminded students to constantly learn, cultivate wisdom and understanding and foster the friendship between the two countries.

Visiting Vietnam, Mrs. Yun Young Ja also shared her joy of witnessing the peaceful and prosperous country, and appreciated the warm welcome of the Vietnamese people. "Your country is beautiful, with people who are working day and night to further develop the nation. I hope Vietnam’s young generation will live an honest life and fight to defend justice," she said.

Vietnamese, RoK Presidents exchanged congratulations on ties anniversary President Tran Dai Quang and the Republic of Korea’s President Moon Jae-in on December 21 exchanged messages of congratulations on the occasion of the 25th ...

Deputy PM Minh meets with RoK leaders, businesses Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on December 21 held a meeting with President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon ...

RoK film festival held in Quang Nam A festival featuring films from the Republic of Korea (RoK) is running in the central province of Quang Nam from December 11 – 17.