A total of 115 outstanding students received scholarships totaling VND1.15 billion ($47,500) from 61 South Korean enterprises such as Samsung, LG, and the Hanwha Group at the Korean Businessman Social Responsibility (CSR) Festival and the 2023 Together Sharing Scholarship Awards Ceremony on November 29 in Hanoi.

The event was jointly organized by the Korean Chamber of Business in Vietnam (KOCHAM) and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Vietnam.

Recipients of the scholarships were recommended by eleven Vietnamese agencies and departments, including the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Quang Tri Provincial Department of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Hanoi People’s Committee, the Korean International School in Hanoi, the Vietnam National University, and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

In his opening address at the ceremony, Mr. Hong Sun, Chairman of KOCHAM, touched on the CSR activities of South Korean businesses investing abroad. He explained that these are activities that directly improve the national image.

“For sustainable development, we must not only look forward but also look around and go together,” he said.

Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam, H.E. Choi Young Sam, emphasized that Vietnam has been a companion of South Korea in all fields for the past 30 years, and they are now important and indispensable partners.

“I hope that the support and encouragement from 61 South Korean companies to the 115 Vietnamese students will become ‘nutrients’ that help each student’s dream take root and grow into big, beautiful green trees,” the Ambassador added.

“I felt extremely touched watching the CSR videos of South Korean businesses,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang. “Each of our actions are bricks that contribute to continuously building the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.”

The event has been organized by KOCHAM since 2015 and has contributed to enhancing the image of South Korean businesses and the nation by widely promoting the CSR activities of South Korean businesses investing in Vietnam, helping to connect excellent Vietnamese students in difficult circumstances to South Korean companies.

In the future, KOCHAM will, together with South Korean businesses investing in Vietnam, continue to participate more actively in CSR activities in the country, targeting the disadvantaged in society and demonstrating South Korea’s inherent culture of “sharing” to strengthen bilateral relationships and improve the business environment.