Fall in Love with Korean Language - Korean Writing Contest Held in Ho Chi Minh City
Students Utilize the Topic 'Seed' to Show off Their Korean Writing Skills

“Just as a seed in the ground grows towards the sun, we have to work hard for our future.” (Ding Thi Nga, Ho Chi Minh Human Science University)

“There are no bad seeds in the beginning; the important thing is where we plant them.” (Line Sreinit, Royal Phenomph University)

The ‘SungKyun Korean Writing Contest’, hosted by Sungkyunkwan University with the goal of spreading interest and proficiency in the Korean language, was held on the 25th of this month at Eden Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  There were 37 students chosen from 15 universities in 4 countries in Southeast Asia such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.  It was filled with the enthusiasm of the local university students eager to display their skills and win a chance to study in Korea.  The students used the ‘seed’ metaphor to write about the future and the concept of hope.  Even though the writing wasn’t perfect, the students’ love for the Korean language was reflected in each letter.

Chief Examiner, Prof. Jae Ho Sung, of SKKU’s School of Law said, “We have chosen seed as the topic because we wish that the contest will be a bridge that connects not only the economics but also the social culture and humanitarianism of Korea and Southeast Asia.”

Lee Yeon Le (21) from Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities who is majoring Korean studies said, “It regrettable that I spent too much time thinking about how to write about the subject ‘seed’ because it has various meanings.”

Ding Thi Nga (23) won first prize and the other twenty-three students were honored with prizes as well.  The first, second, and third prize winners were awarded full scholarships to attend Sungkyunkwan University’s master’s course.

The Vice President of International Affairs and also the Chairman of the Writing Contest Committee, Dr. Suke Kyu Lee, said, “There have been lots of changes since we have been holding the writing contest four times a year.  For example, Vietnamese middle schools and high schools have chosen to have Korean taught as a second foreign language from this year.”