South Korean President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Hanoi on the evening of the 21st to begin his visit to Vietnam, drawing prominent play across major Vietnamese news sites. Vietnam News Agency (TTXVN), Thanh Niên, Tuổi Trẻ, Vietnam+ and VnEconomy all led their homepages with Lee’s arrival, reflecting strong local interest.
Thanh Niên highlighted that the trip is Lee’s first state visit to Vietnam since taking office, and said he is the first foreign head of state to visit since Vietnam’s 16th National Assembly completed a leadership reshuffle. State-run TTXVN posted six photos of Lee and first lady Kim Hye-kyung arriving at Noi Bai airport and reported in detail on the welcoming officials, including Nguyen Minh Vu, first vice minister of foreign affairs; Vu Dai Thang, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee; and Vu Ho, Vietnam’s ambassador to South Korea.
Vietnam+ detailed the makeup of Lee’s delegation, listing senior officials including Deputy Prime Minister Bae Kyung-hoon, who also serves as minister of science and ICT; Foreign Minister Cho Hyun; Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan; and Land Minister Kim Yoon-deok, as well as Ha Jung-woo, senior secretary for AI future planning. The outlet also carried a biographical profile of Lee, saying he earned a law degree from Chung-Ang University, passed the bar exam in 1986, and later served as mayor of Seongnam, governor of Gyeonggi Province, a lawmaker and leader of the Democratic Party before becoming president.
Tuổi Trẻ focused on the visit’s diplomatic significance. Citing an exclusive interview the previous day with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, the outlet reported that “this meeting will be a historic milestone that strengthens the close relationship and trust between the two countries’ top leaders.” It also highlighted that Lee is accompanied by leading South Korean business chiefs, including SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong; Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun; LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo; HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun; and Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon.
Business outlet VnEconomy gave the most extensive treatment to the visit’s economic implications, quoting Ambassador Vu Ho as calling it “a strategic anchor” for a new stage of bilateral ties. The outlet said South Korea is Vietnam’s largest foreign investor, with cumulative registered investment of about $85 billion to $90 billion, and estimated two-way trade last year at $90 billion to $95 billion.
VnEconomy said a key agenda item is shifting cooperation from capital- and labor-dependent ties toward technology and innovation centered on semiconductors, artificial intelligence and advanced industries. Vu Ho was quoted as saying that if the two countries move “from economic cooperation to structured economic integration,” the goal of $150 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 is achievable. The outlet added that, with Vietnam set to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit next year on Phu Quoc, discussions are expected on strengthening cooperation with South Korea—which it said successfully hosted the APEC summit in Gyeongju last year—in the digital economy, green growth and sustainable supply chains.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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