Coach Kim Sang-sik, do you know that Lao Dong Newspaper in Vietnam has just launched a Korean version? How do you evaluate this?
- I think this is a very meaningful step forward. Lao Dong Newspaper has an English version, now continuing to expand to the Korean version, this shows its openness and efforts to connect with the international community, especially Koreans living and working in Vietnam.
For me personally, a Korean coach leading the Vietnam National Team, as well as assistants in the coaching staff, being able to access official information in mother tongue will help us easily grasp news not only about sports, but also related to culture, entertainment, economy, and politics in Vietnam.
I believe that from here, Vietnamese football activities will receive more attention from the Korean community.
Previously, when the Vietnamese press did not have many Korean versions, how did you often update information about football?
- At first, I mainly updated information through an interpreter assistant, or followed reports from Vietnam Press through online dich Output or through English versions. However, it is true that the language barrier has caused many difficulties, especially in accessing information in a complete, quick and accurate way.
Some important contents about the domestic football situation, public opinion or professional assessments are sometimes misunderstood or not fully communicated due to language limitations. Therefore, having Vietnamese mainstream press provide content in Korean is very necessary and practical for the work of Koreans working in Vietnam like me.
How do you evaluate the role of press agencies such as Lao Dong Newspaper in helping foreigners - especially Koreans - better understand football and Vietnamese social life?
- In the context of strong development of social networks, information spreads very quickly but also has many potential risks of misunderstanding. Therefore, official media channels such as Lao Dong Newspaper are extremely important. Previously, we have been reminded by the Vietnam Football Federation about some statements being cited incorrectly on social networks, causing unnecessary misunderstandings with fans and the media.
Therefore, I really appreciate the role of large, prestigious press agencies such as Lao Dong Newspaper in providing accurate, objective and responsible information sources. When those contents are translated into Korean, foreigners like us have an additional trusted channel to understand correctly, understand more deeply about the working environment, football, as well as cultural and social life in Vietnam.
He once shared his desire to learn more about Vietnamese culture and people. Will accessing official media channels in Korean be a priority choice?
- That's for sure. For me, learning culture is not only a part of my work, but also a way to better integrate with the environment and people where I live and work.
The press, especially traditional media agencies such as Lao Dong Newspaper, is a very effective channel for me to approach diverse perspectives on culture, history, customs and lifestyle of the Vietnamese people. I think that not only me but many Koreans in Vietnam will see this as a source of useful information, helping to connect the communities of the two countries more closely.
On the occasion of the 96th anniversary of the first issue of Lao Dong Newspaper, what do you want to share with the press and reporters of the newspaper?
- I would like to send my warmest wishes to the entire team of leaders, reporters, editors and staff of Lao Dong Newspaper on the occasion of the 96th anniversary of the first issue of the newspaper. I hope that, through communication channels such as Lao Dong Newspaper, it will be an effective bridge between cultures, including Korea and Vietnam.
