(Yonhap Interview) Vietnam-S. Korea summit heralds 'strategic relations' between

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's upcoming trip
to Vietnam is expected to open a new chapter in the rapidly developing relations
between the Cold War foes-turned-partners in various sectors, including the
economy, Hanoi's top envoy here said Thursday.
Amb. Pham Tien Van said Lee and his counterpart, Nguyen Minh Triet, plan to agree
in their summit next week to upgrade the two countries' current "comprehensive
partnership" to a "strategic cooperative" relationship and seal a package of
economic cooperation deals.
He pointed out, however, that Seoul should not "beautify" its participation in
the Vietnam War that occurred more than three decades ago if it wants to maintain
the momentum of the growing bilateral exchanges.
"President Lee Myung-bak's visit to Vietnam this time has important meaning, as
it will provide a chance for the two sides to upgrade their relations by one
notch from a long-term perspective and discuss and decide ways to deepen and
expand cooperative ties in every field including politics, security, economy,
culture (and) ... bilateral and multilateral relations," the envoy said in an
interview at his office in Seoul.
He noted the two countries' relations have developed at a breakneck speed,
primarily driven by cultural exchanges, since the normalization of diplomatic
ties in 1992.
"I think the cultural factor has played a vital role," he said in fluent Korean,
which he first studied at Kim Il-sung University in North Korea in the 1960s.
"The peoples of the two countries have many similarities in emotional and
cultural aspects," he said. Known as the "Korean Wave," South Korean TV dramas,
movies, and music are now popular in Vietnam.
When asked about the sensitive issue of Cold War-era hostility between the two
sides, he said, "Bygones are bygones," but added South Korea should be careful
not to "rub salt into the wounds of Vietnamese people."
The Vietnamese government took issue with Seoul's recent definition of the
Vietnam War.
The South Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said in a public
notice last month that it would push for legislation to give economic
compensation and other benefits to veterans who fought alongside the U.S. in the
war, saying they "worked for world peace." Over a decade, hundreds of thousands
of South Korean troops took part in the war before it ended in 1975.
The expression annoyed Vietnamese officials, who say the war fought was against
U.S. aggression. As consultations on the summit agenda met with difficulty due to
the issue, South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan hurriedly flew to Hanoi
last weekend. According to diplomatic sources, Yu assured Vietnamese officials
that his government will not use the phrase "world peace" when referring to
Korean veterans' participation in the Vietnam War.
The ambassador also said the two sides have resolved the problem, asking South
Korea not to make a similar "mistake."
"If South Korea beautifies its participation in the Vietnam War, it would be an
act harming the feelings of Vietnamese people and rubbing salt into their
wounds," he said.
With regard to economic cooperation, the envoy said Vietnam hopes South Korean
firms will join its massive investment project aimed at industrializing the
country by 2020.
"For example, we have cooperated with Japan on the project of linking Hanoi and
Ho Chi Minh City with high-speed rail, but I think South Korean companies will
have a lot of opportunities down the road," he said.
He also called for the South Korean government to make more efforts to help
Vietnamese brides and their children better adjust to life here.
More than 40,000 Vietnamese women have immigrated to South Korea after marrying
South Korean men, he said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)