Korean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City: I eat pho every week

Pho S will be introduced to diners at the Vietnam Pho Festival in Seoul (Korea) - Photo: QUANG DINH

Mr. Shin Choong Il, the Korean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said so when talking to Tuoi Tre, and also "revealed" that he eats pho almost every week.

* Do you have any message to send to guests who will enjoy pho at the Vietnam Pho Festival 2024?

- Vietnamese Pho has slightly different characteristics in each region, but I think that each bowl of Pho with the broth simmered for a long time contains the sincerity of the Vietnamese people. In particular, Pho in Ho Chi Minh City or Southern Vietnam has many different types of vegetables, so I think this is a healthy dish.

Since taking office as the Korean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City in June 2023, I have always emphasized that Korea and Vietnam not only have more than 30 years of diplomatic relations but also a history of exchange of more than 800 years. Above all, Koreans and Vietnamese people are very similar in many aspects of culture and sentiment.

I think that if Korean people eat and think about the long history of exchange and the cultural and emotional similarities between the two countries, they will be able to enjoy Vietnamese pho even better.

Mr. Shin Choong Il, Consul General of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

* In what areas can Vietnam and Korea cooperate through events like Vietnam Pho Festival 2024?

- I am very pleased that the 2024 Vietnamese Pho Festival will be held in Seoul this year. First of all, I would like to congratulate Tuoi Tre newspaper, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Seoul City government for coordinating to organize this meaningful event.

I think Korea and Vietnam can cooperate together in many fields through events such as the 2024 Vietnam Pho Festival.

Firstly, the event will contribute to promoting cultural exchange between the two countries through introducing traditional Vietnamese dishes in Korea.

It is known that about 20 different pho dishes and many other delicious dishes will be introduced at 35 booths at this festival. This will be a special cultural event where Korean people can enjoy many different types of Vietnamese pho.

Second, people of the two countries will increasingly care and understand each other more through events like this, from which more people will visit each other's countries and the number of tourists will increase.

Third, on this occasion, if the Korean - Vietnamese business network is successfully connected in many fields such as food, agriculture, distribution, media... it will be useful for investment and trade cooperation in the future.

I wish the 2024 Vietnam Pho Festival a great success!

Pho S, Ngoc Linh ginseng pho will be present in Seoul, Korea to introduce the brand's unique pho dish at Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 - Performed by: THE KIET - MAI HUYEN

* Koreans have been very successful in bringing their culture and cuisine to the world. Could you share your experience in how Korea has turned cuisine into an important economic sector, contributing to promoting tourism and international trade?

- Thanks to the K-Culture fever, the image of Korean cuisine is widely known around the world through various media such as TV dramas, movies...

Along with actively taking advantage of this trend based on popular culture, the Korean government has also been making many efforts to make Korean food a global culinary trend in line with Korea's increasing national status and prestige.

The Korean government takes the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs as the center to control, operate and strive to create a Korean culinary brand.

Specifically, we use Big Data to establish the image of Korean cuisine and take advantage of various opportunities to satisfy consumers' tastes. Typical events include operating Korea House to promote Korean cuisine at the 2024 Paris Olympics or Korean cooking activities of diplomatic missions abroad...

At the same time, we are strengthening the infrastructure of the Korean food industry at home and abroad. We conduct Korean cooking courses at famous culinary schools overseas to train professional Korean chefs, and we digitize and disseminate delicious Korean food recipes to the public.

Regularly holding international culinary events to promote Korean cuisine is also an important method. In this regard, I think an event like the Vietnam Pho Festival will be a good opportunity to actively promote Vietnamese cuisine.

* Thank you!

Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 takes place on October 5 and 6, 2024 at Pie Factory, 441 Gwangnaru-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (Korea).

The program is co-organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Korea, Tuoi Tre newspaper, Saigontourist Group, under the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the coordination of the Trade Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, General Association of Vietnamese in Korea, Vietnam Business Association in Korea, Korea - Southeast Asia Economic Cooperation Association (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea).

Vietnam Pho Festival 2024 has a performance stage, nearly 70 booths, including more than 40 booths selling pho and Vietnamese and Korean delicacies. Besides, there is a space for cultural experiences, exhibitions, and introductions to Vietnamese culinary culture and tourism.

With the slogan "Enjoy Pho, Discover Vietnam", the program's organizers hope to use Vietnam Pho Festival to create people-to-people diplomacy activities, promote the friendly relations between the two countries, promote culinary culture, and connect trade based on the economic and tourism potentials of Vietnam and Korea.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tong-lanh-su-han-quoc-tai-tp-hcm-tuan-nao-toi-cung-an-pho-20241003074613414.htm