Vietnam Consulate General to Open in Busan... Mayor Park Hyungjun Meets New Consul General

Busan Mayor Park Hyungjun met with the newly appointed Consul General of Vietnam in Busan to discuss ways to enhance cooperation.

According to the Busan Metropolitan Government on July 6, Mayor Park Hyungjun and Doan Phuong Lan, the newly appointed Consul General of Vietnam in Busan, discussed measures to strengthen friendly cooperation between Busan and Vietnam at the International Protocol Office of Busan City Hall at 10:00 a.m. on July 4.

Consul General Doan Phuong Lan recently arrived in Busan and is currently making preparations to open the consulate. The meeting was arranged both as a courtesy visit following her appointment and to share ideas for expanding future cooperation.

Busan Mayor Park Hyungjun (right) is greeting Doan Phuong Lan, Consul General of Vietnam in Busan.

Mayor Park stated, "Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, Korea and Vietnam have maintained close ties. Vietnam is now Korea's third largest trading partner and the largest among ASEAN countries. I congratulate you on your appointment as Consul General and warmly welcome your delegation."

He also emphasized, "Busan has achieved tangible results in trade, human exchange, and cultural cooperation since forming a sister-city relationship with Ho Chi Minh City in 1995. This year marks the meaningful 30th anniversary of that partnership." The city opened a trade office in Ho Chi Minh City in 2008 to support local companies entering the Vietnamese market, and has continued various exchange programs such as inviting public officials for training and supporting Korean language schools.

Mayor Park added, "The opening of the consulate is a symbol of the Vietnamese government's trust in Busan. The city will respond with close cooperation." He further stated, "The establishment of the consulate will not only provide practical assistance to the Vietnamese community, students, and businesspeople in Busan, but also further energize exchanges between the two cities."

Currently, there are about 14,000 Vietnamese residents in Busan, making them the largest group among foreign nationals in the city. They contribute to the local community in various fields, including as students, workers, and marriage migrants.

Consul General Doan Phuong Lan responded, "It is a great honor to be appointed as the first Consul General in Busan. I look forward to further developing relations between our two countries through cooperation with Busan and the surrounding regions under my jurisdiction."

She added, "I will do my utmost to ensure that the consulate opens as soon as possible, and once a stable operational foundation is established, I will actively pursue practical and diverse cooperation policies."

Concluding the meeting, Mayor Park said, "I hope the Consulate General of Vietnam in Busan will become a central hub for economic and cultural exchange between the two countries. Busan will actively cooperate with the consulate for our shared prosperity."