The high-level delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front was headed by Mr. Hoang Cong Thuy, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. The visit took place immediately after the success of the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (term 2026 - 2031) in May 2026, opening a new chapter in the Front's people-to-people diplomacy to consolidate friendly and cooperative relations between the people of the two countries.
New starting point based on similar values
At the reception, Mr. Kim Ji Hyung, Chairman of ESLC, warmly welcomed Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy and the delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. According to the Chairman of ESLC, since upgrading the relationship to "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" in 2022, Vietnam and Korea have become inseparable economic, political and people-to-people exchange partners. With about 350,000 Vietnamese citizens residing in Korea and more than 10,000 Korean businesses creating nearly 900,000 jobs in Vietnam, the support from people's trust and social consensus is the core foundation for sustainable development.
The Vietnam Fatherland Front plays an important role in gathering and reflecting the opinions and aspirations of the People, thereby consolidating the great national unity bloc and strengthening social consensus. ESLC also aims for a similar goal through trilateral dialogue. Our two agencies share a common value, which is to support sustainable development through dialogue and communication connection" - Mr. Kim Ji Hyung affirmed.
On behalf of the delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy respectfully thanked the warm reception of ESLC and conveyed the warmest regards and best wishes from Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Bui Thi Minh Hoai to the Chairman of ESLC.
Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy highly appreciated the key role of ESLC in harmonizing and advising on macroeconomic policies on labor and socio-economics in Korea.
Affirming the potential and new position of the two countries after nearly 35 years of establishing diplomatic relations, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy expects the two agencies to actively exchange to reach the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation Program (MOU) in 2027 - a meaningful milestone to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Korea.
At the same time, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy respectfully conveyed the invitation of Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Bui Thi Minh Hoai to the Chairman of ESLC and the high-level delegation to visit Vietnam and sign a Memorandum of Understanding in 2027.
Promoting substantive cooperation on dialogue and social criticism mechanisms
Immediately after the courtesy reception, the delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front held extensive talks with ESLC under the chairmanship of Mr. Lee Jung Han - Secretary General (Deputy Minister, Vice President) of ESLC.
At the talks, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy suggested key cooperation orientations for the upcoming Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation (MOU), including two core contents: First, strengthening exchange and experience sharing: Promoting high-level and expert-level delegation exchanges; coordinating and supporting each other at multilateral forums.
Second is research cooperation and policy dialogue: Deeper sharing on how social dialogue operates; trilateral dialogue mechanisms; supervision and social criticism; methods of building social consensus in economic - labor policies, as well as innovation and digital transformation.
In particular, stemming from the spirit of caring for the legitimate rights and interests of the people, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy respectfully requested ESLC to continue to pay attention to and promote support policies to protect the legitimate rights of the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in Korea. At the same time, requested the Vietnamese side to give opinions on easing conditions and procedures, towards visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens entering Korea for tourism purposes, visiting relatives to further tighten the foundation of people-to-people exchanges.
Mr. Lee Jung Han expressed high agreement with the proposed contents and roadmap for signing the MOU in early 2027 in Vietnam; and affirmed that ESLC will actively coordinate to develop the relationship between the two agencies into a long-term, substantive cooperative relationship, learning together and moving forward together.
Concluding the talks, Vice Chairman Hoang Cong Thuy requested the specialized agencies of the two sides – directly the People's Foreign Affairs Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Foreign Affairs Cooperation Committee of ESLC – to maintain regular information channels to complete technical procedures and prepare carefully for the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding in Vietnam in 2027.
