Consul General Jung Jung Tae hopes Tuoi Tre to strengthen role as Vietnam-South Korea bridge

At a meeting held on Tuesday at Tuoi Tre’s headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City, Consul General Jung and Editor-in-Chief Le The Chu discussed priorities for enhancing bilateral relations, as well as cooperation between the newspaper and the South Korean Consulate General.

Jung noted that he had followed many of Tuoi Tre’s articles and praised its contributions to strengthening ties between the two nations.

For his part, Chu emphasized the strong cultural affinity between Vietnam and South Korea, pointing out that Korean cultural products, particularly K-pop and films, have gained widespread popularity among Vietnamese youth.

He also spotlighted the notable achievements of South Korean football coaches leading Vietnam’s national teams.

In recent years, tourism between the two countries has also surged in both directions, while Ho Chi Minh City has become home to a sizable Korean expatriate community.

Chu recalled that Tuoi Tre had successfully organized a 'Vietnam Phở Festival' event in Seoul in 2024, bringing Vietnamese pho artisans to South Korea alongside artists for cultural exchanges and businesses for investment networking.

He also pointed to other key areas of bilateral cooperation, particularly economic investment and education and workforce development.

Given Tuoi Tre's identity as a youth-oriented publication, Chu proposed that the South Korean Consulate General regularly share information relevant to young people, especially as Ho Chi Minh City ramps up infrastructure investment, innovation, and demand for a young workforce, while South Korea holds a competitive edge in semiconductor training.

"The strong economic ties between Vietnam and South Korea have contributed enormously to both countries' development. We stand ready to serve as an active bridge to further deepen the relationship,” Chu stated.

For his part, the newly appointed consul general revealed that he has lived and worked in Ho Chi Minh City since 2011.

This span is nearly as long as the 17 years he spent in his hometown of Daegu and the 17 years of studying and working in Seoul.

He now considers Ho Chi Minh City his second home.

Jung was officially appointed consul general in February.

He said he has been closely following Tuoi Tre’s coverage and praised the newspaper for helping bridge the two countries.

“Exchanges between Vietnam and South Korea are growing ever closer. During my tenure, I will work to further strengthen bilateral ties, as well as the relationship between our two organizations. I look forward to working with Tuoi Tre,” Jung stated.

The two sides also discussed upcoming collaborative projects.

Chu revealed Tuoi Tre had organized more than 20 university admissions counseling fairs this year, with participation from institutions across multiple countries and territories.

He expressed hope that the South Korean Consulate General could help connect major Korean universities to these events.

Jung outlined several plans for the consulate in the coming period and proposed serving as a bridge between Tuoi Tre and leading Korean media outlets.