'Write and Read' publication on Korean Literature

Modern history has witnessed one of the strange phenomena of immigration: in recent decades, there have been two giant streams of people moving in parallel in opposite directions, Vietnamese people to Korea and Korean people to Vietnam to do business, live, and form communities in each country. The Korean community in Vietnam is one of the largest communities in Southeast Asia, while the Vietnamese community in Korea has always been the second largest among foreign communities in the land of Kim Chi. Along with the shift in population is a shift in culture, in which reading culture is a core element. That is also the reason for the birth of the publication "Writing and Reading" specializing in Korean Literature.

The publication features leading writers of Korean literature over the past decades. There are young authors representing the future of Korean literature. In addition, there are memories of Vietnamese writers and poets who have had the opportunity to visit Korea, were warmly welcomed by friends and people there, and left in their hearts good impressions and feelings about the land and people of Kim Chi.

Cover of the book “Writing and Reading Korean Literature”.

For Vietnamese readers, this is an opportunity to learn more about Korean literature - a literature with a beautiful tradition and long-lasting vitality but still not widely known in Vietnam. As for Koreans who know and use Vietnamese, this publication is an opportunity to re-read the literature of their homeland through the eyes of Vietnamese translators, who have skillfully translated Korean literary works into their second native language.

At the book launch, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association shared: “Korea is a country close to the Vietnamese people, we have met you not only on the pages of books but also in life and in movies. We really admire what Korea has done. In literature, you have had many achievements; your works have been translated into Vietnamese and we have warmly welcomed them.”

Also according to poet Tran Dang Khoa - a person who reads Korean literature very thoroughly and especially poetry, he said: “A country where poetry reaches its peak. I almost know by heart the poems that have been translated into Vietnamese, 5-word poems, 6-word poems or 4-line, 5-line poems are all wonderful. Your poetry is really so good, I don't know how to express that spirit. I feel honored to be here and express what I have thought and felt for a long time."

Expressing his gratitude to the Vietnam Writers Association in particular and Vietnam in general, the Director of the Korean Reading Culture Company excitedly shared: “We thank our Vietnamese friends for welcoming us over the years. The two countries have become close, have many similarities, we are friends in many aspects. Hopefully, the two sides will have more and more cooperation projects to understand each other better and become closer.”

Writing and Reading event on Korean literature.

With the participation of famous Korean writers such as Kim-Ae-Ran, Lee-Hyo-seok, Park So-ran, Lee Dae-heum... and famous Vietnamese writers such as Bao Ninh, Le Minh Khue, Tran Quang Dao, Y Ban, Nguyen Thi Anh Huynh..., the publication "Write and Read" on Korean literature has reflected quite fully and truthfully the spiritual life of the people of Kim Chi land.

Koreans have a saying: Even though we are not close together, I still follow you! Publications about Korean literature open a door for Vietnamese readers to follow Korean literature, to follow the thoughts and feelings of friends with many fates and many historical similarities./.