S.Korea unveils statue of Vietnam’s Emperor Ly Thai To in North Gyeongsang

The inauguration ceremony took place on Sunday during the ‘Korea-Vietnam Global Exchange’ at the Chunghyodang historic site in Bonghwa, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

Co-hosted by Bonghwa County, the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea, Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ly family in South Korea, the event drew more than 800 participants, including officials from both countries.

The 5.5-meter-tall statue, placed in Vietnam village in Bonghwa, honors Emperor Ly Thai To (974–1028), founder of the Ly dynasty (1009–1225) and revered ancestor of Vietnamese royal descendants in Bonghwa.

The statue was funded by the county at a cost of 300 million won (about $215,000).

Its design replicates the 11-meter-tall statue of Ly Thai To in Hanoi.

The decision to erect the statue reflects the long-standing historical ties between Vietnam and South Korea.

In his opening remarks, Bonghwa Governor Park Hyeon Guk recalled that descendants of Vietnam’s Ly Dynasty migrated to the Korean Peninsula some 800 years ago, establishing one of the earliest bonds between the two nations.

He noted that Changpyeong-ri Village in Bonghwa has long been home to the Hwasan Lee family, descendants of Emperor Ly Thai To, serving as a bridge linking the peoples of South Korea and Vietnam.

“Earlier this month, we received permission from Vietnam to erect the statue. This is the first time Emperor Ly Thai To has been commemorated in this way outside his homeland,” a Bonghwa official said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Korea Vu Ho highlighted the deep historical roots of Vietnam–South Korea relations, which have flourished and led to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022.

The statue is part of a larger cultural initiative, the ‘K-Vietnam Valley,’ which is being developed on a 118,890-square-meter site around Chunghyodang with a total investment of 200 billion won (about $143.3 million) and scheduled for completion by 2033.