Hung Yen expands cooperation with South Korean partners in healthcare, education, and science & technology sectors

The delegation saw the participation of Mr. Vu Ngoc Tri, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, and leaders of various provincial departments, agencies, and units.

Expanding the scope of Hung Yen–South Korea cooperation

During working sessions, the Hung Yen delegation introduced South Korean partners to the province's potential, advantages, and development orientation for the new era. Hung Yen boasts a natural area of ​​over 2,514 km² and a population exceeding 3.5 million; it borders Hanoi and features a coastline facing the East Sea. The province is actively accelerating industrialization and modernization, developing knowledge-based and digital economies, and expanding its development associated with industry, urban areas, services, logistics, the marine economy, and high-tech agriculture.

The province identifies South Korea as a key partner in its strategy to attract investment and expand international cooperation. To date, there are 210 active South Korean FDI projects in Hung Yen, with a total registered capital of approximately US$2.9 billion. These projects have significantly contributed to the province's economic growth, job creation, and technology transfer. Building on this foundation of cooperation, Hung Yen aims to attract the projects characterized by high technological content, significant value-added, and strong spillover effects. Simultaneously, the province seeks to strengthen connections with South Korean corporations, enterprises, organizations, and localities in sectors that the province has needs and the partners possess strengths.

A key message emphasized by the province during these working sessions is that cooperation must be substantive, involving specific partners and concrete content and lead to the gradual development of actionable programs and projects.

Strengthening connections across the National Assembly, local governments, and the business community

On September 29, the Hung Yen provincial delegation visited the National Assembly of South Korea and met with National Assembly Member (MP) Park Jeong-ha.

The Hung Yen provincial delegation visits the National Assembly of South Korea and meets with National Assembly Member Park Jeong-ha.

During the meeting, the delegation provided an overview of Hung Yen’s potential, advantages, and development orientation. They discussed Vietnam-South Korea relations and the role of cooperation between localities, agencies, and organizations in concretizing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations.

Mr. Pham Van Nghiem, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and head of the delegation, requested that MP Park Jeong-ha and the South Korean National Assembly continue to support bilateral cooperation mechanisms. He asked for assistance in connecting and introducing South Korean corporations, enterprises, and localities to investment and cooperation opportunities in Hung Yen across such sectors as high-tech industry, energy, smart cities, high-tech agriculture, healthcare, education, and high-quality human resource training.

Regarding investment cooperation, the province reaffirms its commitment to partnering with businesses, improving the business and investment environment, enhancing governance quality, and creating favorable conditions for South Korean investors to operate stably and sustainably in the locality.

Focusing on human resources, science and technology, and innovation

On the morning of September 30, the delegation of Hung Yen province visited the Asia Center at Seoul National University (SNU) to discuss cooperation opportunities in high-quality human resource training, scientific research, innovation, and knowledge transfer.

The Hung Yen provincial delegation visits and works with the Vietnam Center and the Southeast Asia Center at Seoul National University, South Korea.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Pham Van Nghiem, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, highly valued Seoul National University's role in talent training, scientific research, and the promotion of innovation. He affirmed that high-quality human resources and science and technology are key drivers for Hung Yen's sustainable development in the new era.

Leveraging Seoul National University's strengths and the province's development needs, Hung Yen proposed strengthening cooperation in the fields such as artificial intelligence, information technology, engineering, biomedicine, public administration, and social sciences. The province proposed collaborating on scholarship programs for outstanding students, facilitating the exchange of lecturers and experts, and organizing training courses on public administration, digital transformation, urban planning, and sustainable development.

The province requested that Seoul National University explore the possibility of providing consultancy and support to Hung Yen in formulating a strategy for science, technology development, and innovation, as well as establishing applied research programs and centers aligned with local practical needs.

Professor Kim Yong Gyun, Director of the Vietnam Center at the Institute for Asian Studies, identified education, research, and innovation as the areas with significant potential for cooperation with Hung Yen province. He affirmed the Center's readiness to discuss specific collaborative programs, connect experts, and foster academic exchanges in the near future.

This approach aligns with the current trend of Vietnam-South Korea cooperation, as both nations actively promote joint efforts in research and development, high-quality workforce training, strategic technologies, and innovation ecosystems.

On the same day, the provincial delegation visited and studied the operational models of Severance Hospital (a part of the Yonsei University Health System), Gangnam-gi Haengbok Nursing Hospital, and Meerecompany, a South Korean firm that develops and commercializes laparoscopic surgical robots.

The Hung Yen provincial delegation visits the Severance Rehabilitation Hospital under the Yonsei University Health System.

At these facilities, the delegation explored management practices and the application of high-tech solutions in medical diagnosis and treatment, as well as the use of robotics in healthcare and elderly care. Through these visits, the province sought opportunities for collaboration in training, technology transfer, and the implementation of information technology, artificial intelligence, and modern medical solutions tailored to local development needs.

This strategic direction stems from the need to improve the quality of public healthcare amidst Hung Yen's growing population, rapid urbanization and industrialization, and the rising demand for high-quality medical services. Hung Yen province seeks to strengthen cooperation with South Korean hospitals, universities, and medical corporations in such areas as medical workforce training and professional development, the transfer of advanced medical techniques, and the application of digital technology and artificial intelligence in healthcare services, while exploring the potential for developing high-quality healthcare models.

During this working visit to South Korea, Hung Yen has expanded the scope of its engagement to encompass a wide range of sectors and disciplines. While investment cooperation remains a vital foundation, the province has identified education and training, science and technology, healthcare, innovation, and knowledge transfer as key areas for forging new partnerships.

The Hung Yen provincial delegation views the Revo-i laparoscopic surgery robot at Meerecompany in South Korea.

Building on this foundation, Hung Yen aims to deepen collaboration with South Korean universities and research institutes to develop a high-quality workforce and partner with hospitals and medical facilities to enhance professional expertise and gain access to modern medical technologies. Simultaneously, the province is actively seeking cooperation opportunities with South Korean enterprises in high-tech sectors, advanced manufacturing, digital transformation, green energy, logistics, and high-value-added industries.

As part of its investment promotion activities in South Korea, Hung Yen has identified priority sectors for investment attraction, including processing and manufacturing, semiconductors, electronics, digital infrastructure, green energy, logistics, industrial infrastructure, seaport development, and tourism. Guided by the motto of being "proactive, active, substantive, and effective," Hung Yen province aims to transform investment promotion and connection activities into concrete cooperation programs featuring specific partners, designated focal points, and clear implementation roadmaps. Simultaneously, the province seeks to expand investment connection channels and create opportunities to access South Korea’s development expertise, technology, knowledge, and management models, thereby broadening its partner network to support rapid and sustainable development in the new era.