We met with Loc Thi Hong Phuong, who showed off her fluent Korean skills in front of the President of Korea

We met with student Loc Thi Hong Phuong of KSI Vietnam Center.
She gave a presentation in fluent Korean at the “Conversation with Korean learners in Vietnam” on June 22, in front of about 70 officials, including President Yoon Suk Yeol. Shall we listen to her story full of love about the Korean language?

Hello, Ms. Loc Thi Hong Phuong.
First of all, please tell us about yourself for the readers of Monthly Knock Knock.

Hello. I am Loc Thi Phuong, living in Vietnam. I majored in English at Thai Nguyen University in Northern Vietnam, and graduated in 2017. Nice to meet you.

You are currently working for Samsung Engineering, a Korean company in Ho Chi Minh City. What kind of work do you do? And are the things you learned in KSI classes actually useful for work?

I do office administration to help the office operate smoothly, and work on translation and interpretation from English to Vietnamese or from Korean to Vietnamese. Since I work for a Korean company, everything that I learn at KSI is helpful. Not only the Korean language, but other things I learned at KSI are also used in writing emails or making reports at work. In addition, because I learned about cultural differences at KSI, I can communicate better with Korean people and enjoy working by understanding each other.

How did you learn about KSI? Can you tell us what you liked about learning Korean language at KSI Vietnam Center?

Since I was in college, I have been interested in Korea and the Korean language through Korean dramas. I was recommended by my friends who went to KSI before me to apply for Korean language classes at KSI Thai Nguyen in 2017. After taking classes, I got totally immersed in learning Korean and also took classes at KSI Vietnam Center.
I don’t think I can finish today even if I only tell you the good things, so I will just tell you a few of them. First of all, the textbooks are very beautiful, motivating me to study better. And because all the teachers are very kind, I thought I should study harder. Also, KSI provides opportunities to learn and experience Korean culture, in addition to the language. I had chances to make Korean cuisine and draw pictures on a traditional Korean hand fan. The students can participate in Korean writing and speech contests and are given opportunities to visit Korea themselves when they do well. The tuition for all those experiences is not even expensive.
If someone asks me where they should study Korean, my answer would be KSI. When I get used to working and have more time, I will definitely take classes at KSI again.

How are Korean companies perceived in Vietnam? What do your family and friends think about you working at a Korean company?

The relationship between Korea and Vietnam has been good for a long time, and is getting better. There are many Korean companies in Vietnam. Among them, large companies such as Samsung, Hyundai, and Hyosung are popular with good salaries and welfare. Samsung Engineering, where I work, is a good place to work because people are kind, understanding, and respectful to each other, regardless of their nationality. I am sad that I live far away from my family and friends, but my mom and brother always support me for working at such a good company.

I heard that you gave a presentation at the “Conversation with Korean learners in Vietnam” event held at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, on June 22, when the President of Korea visited Vietnam.

Yes, it is an unforgettable memory. I received a call from a teacher at KSI Vietnam Center after work on June 8. I was told that I was supposed to meet a very high-ranking official. I did not expect it to be the President of Korea. Next day, I asked for permission from the company, and started preparing for the presentation with teachers at KSI. It was a short time, and I changed the topic many times, but the teachers helped me a lot.

I heard there were a total of about 70 people in addition to the president of Korea, including students learning Korean in Vietnam and officials from educational institutions. Were you not nervous?

Actually, I was very nervous. I was the only non-Korean major among the presenters. I was the fifth and the last presenter, and I felt burdened because the people who presented before me all did very well. Fortunately, my teacher gave me Woohwangchungsimwon and I was able to finish the presentation without being too nervous. I was happy that President Yoon Suk Yeol gave out a word of encouragement after everyone who participated finished. I thought I should pay more attention to developing myself and my Korean skills.

On June 24, you participated in the Preliminary Round for KBS Global Woorimal Battle which was held at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and KSI Vietnam Center. Did you have any difficulties preparing for it?

I learned about the preliminary round in Vietnam for KBS Global Woorimal Battle at KSI Vietnam Center. I decided to participate because I wanted to know how much I know about Korea. Questions were asked on various topics such as K-pop, traditional Korean games, and Korean food, and we had to answer in 10 seconds. Although it was difficult, it was an exciting and fun experience because I was with many friends.

Korean culture and contents such as K-pop and K-drama are gaining popularity in Vietnam. Do you also enjoy Korean culture, Ms. Loc Thi Hong Phuong?

When I was young, Korean dramas such as Jewel in the Palace, Jumong, and Winter Sonata were popular in Vietnam. When it was time, everyone went home to watch them with their family. In middle school, I enjoyed watching Boys Over Flowers, and in high school, I became a fan of idol groups such as Girls Generation and Super Junior. I also like Big Bang. My favorite K-drama now is Hospital Playlist. There is a lot to learn from K-dramas, and it gives me strength to go on when I am tired or weary.

Please give advice to Vietnamese people who want to study Korean.

There is no shortcut. If you want to learn Korean, commit yourself and study hard! Even if you are a little poor with what you"ve learned, don’t be shy, and talk and practice more. Way to go!