A 23-member executive board of the Vietnamese Students' Association in the Republic of Korea  was elected during the congress. (Photo: VNA).

Tran Thien Quang, President of the VSAK in the 8th tenure, said the association has successfully organised many events such as the 8th annual Conference of Vietnamese Young Scientists (ACVYS) 2022 and a programme to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival 2023.

These events have stimulated creative thinking, and offered new opportunities for students, he said, adding that they attracted not only those in the RoK but also Vietnamese students and young intellectuals around the world.

He went on to say that the VSAK has also mobilised hundreds of scholarships for students and postgraduates, helping them to have more support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of activities to mark the 30th founding anniversary of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic relations (December 22, 1992-2022), the VSAK, in coordination with the representative office of the Ministry of Science and Technology in the RoK, organised a seminar to share research directions with Vietnamese scientists and intellectuals, thereby setting forth solutions to promote collaboration in the field of science, technology and innovation in the new period, contributing to the country’s construction and development, Quang said.

An executive board for the 2023-2025 term was elected at the congress, consisting of 23 members representing more than 70,000 Vietnamese students and postgraduates across the RoK.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tung urged the VSAK’s new executive board to maintain a close relationship with the embassy to promptly address emerging problems effectively, helping to make the association a model for Vietnamese student associations in other countries to follow.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan said that labour cooperation is one of the main fields in bilateral relations.

Since 2004, nearly 130,000 Vietnamese people have worked in the RoK under its Employment Permit System (EPS) programme.

Hoan stressed that sending Vietnamese people to work abroad is a major policy of the Vietnamese Government to generate jobs and income, improve skills and professional behaviour for them, thus contributing to creating high-quality human resources to return to help build the nation.

The official went on to say that labour cooperation will contribute to strengthening the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries, including the RoK.

He took the occasion to encourage labourers to make the most of the RoK’s new policy related to training for EPS workers to study and improve their skills so as to meet the host’s increasing requirements.

Hoan also called on those who are residing and working in the RoK illegally to voluntarily come back home to enjoy the Korean Government's grace policy and be able return to the East Asian nation to work legally if they wish.

At the event, staffs of the Labour Management Board and the EPS Vietnam Office in the RoK provided guidance on procedures for workers to return home on time when their contract expires.