Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — On August 14 (local time), the 29th World Korean Language Oratory Contest was successfully held at the Ho Chi Minh City National University auditorium in Vietnam. Co-hosted by the Korea Speech and Oratory Association, the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City, and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, the event served as a testament to the passionate enthusiasm of young people from around the world for the Korean language and culture. Eleven teams from 24 countries and 48 individual participants expressed their dreams and experiences through the Korean language. More than just a language competition, it was a festival that showed how the Korean language has seeped into their lives and is changing their future.
Participants took to the stage with their unique personalities on full display. Orators dressed in Vietnam's traditional áo dài or Korea's hanbok shared heartfelt stories that resonated with the audience, earning applause and cheers regardless of their pronunciation fluency. Those who couldn't attend in person, such as those from as far as Ethiopia, conveyed their passion through video submissions. The stage featured lively performances with traditional dances, while the audience waved their national flags along with the South Korean flag in a show of enthusiastic support.
Korean Language, a Deep Connection to Life
The topics of the speeches in this competition proved that the Korean language has now become deeply rooted in the participants' lives, moving beyond a simple subject of study. The team "Wednesday of Lac Hong" from Lac Hong University in Vietnam confessed that they came to sympathize with Korea's painful history by quoting novels by author Han Kang. They also shared their ambition to translate Korean literature and introduce it to more people. Similarly, the "Viet Wave" team from Ho Chi Minh City Open University presented a bold plan to promote Vietnamese culture to the world, taking a lesson from how the Korean Wave has captivated a global audience.
The stories of the individual participants were even more impressive. Pyo Pyo Pyo, a student from the Yangon University of Foreign Languages in Myanmar, humorously recounted his initial misunderstanding of the Konglish term "fighting," explaining that the word has now become a special expression symbolizing passion and willpower in his life. Amina Mohamed Ali, who came from Djibouti in East Africa, reminisced about her experience of self-studying Korean after watching the drama Jewel in the Palace as a child. Her story of dedicating herself to learning Korean with only her father's encouragement, despite the lack of Korean language teachers and internet resources, moved many. She added to the emotion by expressing her longing for her father, who she believed would be happy to see her speaking on this stage.
K-Food Patjuk Becomes a Global Dream
The prestigious Presidential Award was given to a Korean participant, Ms. Cho In-sook. Cho, who has operated a patjuk (red bean porridge) restaurant in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province for over 20 years, delivered a speech on the topic of "K-Food." She said she was deeply moved by how foreign customers at her restaurant were fascinated by the taste of patjuk and even took it to go. She then expressed her bold ambition to promote K-Food patjuk to the world. Her speech was particularly meaningful as it showcased a Korean's effort to contribute to the globalization of Korean culture from a Korean perspective.
In a video message of congratulations, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok praised the Korean language as the "platform for K-Culture" and announced plans to expand King Sejong Institutes and establish AI-based ones to meet the growing demand for Korean language learning. He added that the government would also improve the accessibility of the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), which is taken by over 400,000 people annually, and promote the value of the Korean language to the world through the upcoming APEC event in Gyeongju this October.
Kim Gyeong-seok, president of the Korea Speech and Oratory Association, said that 30 years of effort had made Korean language oratory a new Hallyu (Korean Wave), and he announced that next year, they would invite 30 countries to Korea to hold the contest. This Ho Chi Minh City contest provided a valuable experience for Korean language learners worldwide to share not only their language skills but also their dreams and visions. The Korean language has now become a powerful medium for breaking down language barriers and connecting the world.
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