Yun Byeongtae, Mayor of Naju, Conducts Interview with Vietnamese National Broadcaster

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] Yoon Byung-tae, mayor of Naju, Jeollanam-do, had an opportunity to introduce Naju to the Vietnamese people and local residents through an interview with Vietnam's national broadcaster ‘Vov’.

According to the city on the 10th, the filming team from Vietnam's national broadcaster Vov visited the city hall on the 7th and conducted an interview with Mayor Yoon Byung-tae.

This interview was promoted at the request of the national broadcaster’s filming team, who came to Korea to produce a program depicting the lives of local residents such as the Gwangju-Jeonnam Vietnamese Residents Association, which settled in Bitgaram-dong, Naju on October 8 last year, and marriage immigrant women living in Naju.

The interview was held with about 20 people attending, including officials from Vietnam's national broadcaster, the Gwangju English Broadcasting filming team, and executives of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Vietnamese Residents Association.

Through the interview, Mayor Yoon introduced Naju’s development as the center of Jeolla Province’s history since the ancient Mahan period 2,000 years ago, the creation of Bitgaram Innovation City, and the opening of Korea Energy Engineering University, where history, culture, and future energy coexist.

He also enthusiastically promoted Naju by explaining the history and tourist resources of the Yeongsan River, the life-giving waterway flowing through Naju like the Mekong River in Vietnam, as well as the taste, benefits, and overseas export status of Naju’s representative fruit, the Naju pear.

Last year, about 435 tons of Naju pears were exported to Vietnam through the Naju City Cooperative Joint Business Corporation, traded at around 90,000 KRW per 15kg (6,000 KRW per kg). This year’s export target volume is set at approximately 500 tons.

Mayor Yoon said, “The brand names of Naju pears exported to Vietnam are ‘Korean Pear’ and ‘Evergood Pear.’ As the largest pear production area in the country, they are sweet, juicy fruits good for bronchial health,” adding, “I recommend the world-class premium fruit Naju pear as a healthy and delicious holiday gift for the Vietnamese people and residents.”

He continued, “Among the total 3,631 foreigners, about 30%, or 1,100 Vietnamese residents, live in Naju. There are also 267 Vietnamese international students at Dongshin University, and two out of three graduate students at Korea Energy Engineering University are Vietnamese nationals,” adding, “We will carefully manage welfare policies for multicultural families, cultural enjoyment, and support for stable settlement.”

Furthermore, he said, “The introduction of seasonal workers will not only solve the rural labor shortage but also provide a good opportunity for Vietnamese people to learn advanced agricultural technology and serve as a catalyst for exchanges in tourism, energy industry, and business,” promising, “We will thoroughly manage working conditions such as human rights protection, housing environment, adaptation training, and welfare so that workers can adapt well in Naju.”

Meanwhile, the footage from this interview will be broadcast on Vov5 Korean language radio and aired in a special documentary on the Vietnamese residents’ Lunar New Year produced by the national broadcaster.

Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong baekok@asiae.co.kr