By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, led by Governor Lee Cheol-woo, held a "Meeting with the Vietnamese Leader" event at the K Hotel in Gyeongju on October 30, 2025.

This event commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Saemaul Globalization Project, which began with the establishment of the first Saemaul pilot village in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, in 2005.

The event was attended by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, who was visiting Korea for the APEC Summit; Gyeongsangbuk-do Council Speaker Park Sung-man; National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee Chairman Kim Seok-ki; Bonghwa County Mayor Park Hyun-guk; and other Saemaul-related leaders in the province.

The event was further enriched by the presence of approximately 300 guests, including approximately 150 Vietnamese seasonal workers from Bonghwa County, who serve as a bridge for bilateral cooperation between Gyeongsangbuk-do and Vietnam, approximately 40 Vietnamese students studying at Uideok University, and members of the Hwasan Lee Clan Association.

Main events included a pre-ceremony performance, welcoming remarks by Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo, encouraging remarks by Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, a souvenir exchange, a video presentation on the Gyeongsangbuk-do-Vietnam Joint Journey, a friendship and cooperation performance, and a banquet.

Notably, during the souvenir exchange, Governor Lee Cheol-woo and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong exchanged the Emile Bell, a sacred bell of King Seongdeok, and a bronze Dong Son drum sculpture, expressing their commitment to continue their partnership through the Saemaul Movement.

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province has established sister city relationships with Vietnam's Thai Nguyen Province (2005), Ho Chi Minh City (2006), and Bac Ninh Province (2023).

By establishing 15 Saemaul pilot villages in Vietnam, Gyeongsangbuk-do has driven tangible changes in local income and development through improvements to living environments, such as the improvement of village roads, and the spread of agricultural and digital technologies.

Furthermore, in 2016, Gyeongsangbuk-do established the Saemaul Research Institute at Ho Chi Minh City University in Vietnam, fostering local talent and promoting the Saemaul Movement.

Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo stated, "The bond between Gyeongsangbuk-do and Vietnam dates back 800 years to when descendants of the Vietnamese Ly Dynasty settled in Bonghwa. This bond continues to this day. We will continue to pursue various cooperative projects based on the Saemaul spirit, working with Vietnam to create a sustainable future for mutual prosperity."