- Sir, since its establishment, how has VESAMO's activities changed?
Mr. Chang Ho Ick: When we were first established in 2002, we mainly focused on supporting the Vietnamese community living in Korea, such as international students, workers, or Vietnamese women married to Koreans. However, during a visit to Vietnam about 10 years ago, we directly met many victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and were deeply moved by their difficult circumstances.
From there, we realized that we needed to do something more practical for these disadvantaged people. VESAMO began implementing humanitarian support activities in Vietnam, including building Compassion Houses. To date, we have started construction on the 6th and 7th houses, and provided livelihoods to families of Agent Orange/dioxin victims.
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| Mr. Chang Ho Ick, Chairman of VESAMO. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
- How do you perceive the significance of these activities for Vietnam - Korea relations?
Mr. Chang Ho Ick: I think that the political and diplomatic relations between the two countries are currently at a very good stage of development, especially after the two sides upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. However, for that relationship to become stronger and more substantial, it is important that the people of the two countries understand and love each other. People-to-people exchanges, especially supporting vulnerable people such as victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, are the way to strengthen the sentiments between the two peoples.
- In the coming time, what plans does VESAMO have to continue supporting Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/dioxin?
Mr. Chang Ho Ick: The construction of the House of Love is a symbol of our activities towards Agent Orange/dioxin victims. We hope that this movement will spread more widely in the Korean community, so that more organizations and individuals will join. In addition to continuing to build more houses, we are considering expanding the scope of support, such as medical support, livelihood support or scholarships for children of victims.
- What do you expect from the community and organizations' attention to the Agent Orange/dioxin issue in Vietnam?
Mr. Chang Ho Ick: Initially, we mainly raised funds ourselves to implement the activities. But after a few years, when the model began to be widely known, we realized that its influence was increasing. For example, in the project to build Charity Houses No. 6 and No. 7, Busan Bank joined in. I hope that in the future, more agencies, organizations, businesses, and even individuals in Korea will join in expanding the program. This is not only a charitable and humanitarian act, but also a message of sharing and empathy between the two peoples.
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| Mr. Chang Ho Ick (third from right), Chairman of VESAMO, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony of Charity House No. 7. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
- Besides humanitarian activities, how do you evaluate VESAMO's role in connecting businesses and localities of the two countries?
Mr. Chang Ho Ick: VESAMO was founded by professors, scholars, and people who are passionate about Vietnam-Korea relations, so from the beginning, the goal was to promote people-to-people exchanges, not for economic purposes. However, during the operation, some Korean enterprises were interested and wanted to connect through us. We are willing to play the role of a bridge between businesses of the two countries, as long as such activities do not affect the reputation and non-profit, humanitarian principles of the Association.
- From your experience working with vulnerable groups in Vietnam, how do you evaluate the efforts of the Vietnamese government in the field of human rights protection?
Mr. Chang Ho Ick: VESAMO cannot do activities like this by itself. During the implementation process, we have always received enthusiastic support from the Vietnamese government, from connecting with the families of the victims to coordinating the organization. We appreciate the increasingly clear efforts of the Vietnamese government in caring for and protecting vulnerable groups in society, such as victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, women and children in difficult circumstances.
Thank you very much!
Lives given hopeOn June 27 in Hanoi, the Association of Korean People Who Love Vietnam (VESAMO) in collaboration with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin and related units held a groundbreaking ceremony for Charity Houses No. 6 and No. 7, and presented 100 million VND in livelihood support to 10 families of Agent Orange victims, each family receiving 10 million VND.
Mr. Cao Khanh Hoa (74 years old, Truong Thinh commune, Ung Hoa district, Hanoi) was in the army twice and is one of the victims severely affected by Agent Orange/dioxin. The consequences not only affected him but also spread to the next two generations. Of his four children, two have to take medicine for life due to the consequences, including the eldest son who passed away. His grandson also has a congenital defect. The family of five used to live in a house of about 20 square meters with a thin corrugated iron roof, which was stuffy in the summer and leaked when it rained. Thanks to the support of 3,000 USD from VESAMO and additional loans, Mr. Hoa has built a new, more solid house of 30 square meters with a cold corrugated iron roof, and plans to install air conditioning to improve living conditions for the whole family.
Mr. Pham Van Vu (82 years old, Kim Duong commune, Ung Hoa district) is also one of the victims of Agent Orange. Due to the effects of this chemical, he and his wife do not have children. Previously, they lived in a level 4 house of about 30 square meters, with a degraded fibro-cement roof that leaked every time it rained. With support from the program, they were able to rebuild a more solid house, expand the usable area and replace the roof with sturdy materials, ensuring more stable living conditions.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Sen (37 years old, Ha Dong district, Hanoi) is the daughter of a veteran who was exposed to Agent Orange/dioxin. Due to genetic influences, three of her four siblings are completely blind, and her husband is also blind. Currently, the couple maintains a massage and acupressure facility for the blind in the locality, but the equipment has deteriorated, affecting its operations. With the VND10 million support from VESAMO, Ms. Sen plans to install new air conditioners to better serve customers. She also hopes to access more capital to renovate facilities, expand operations and create jobs for people in similar situations. “I hope more people like me will be supported so that life will be less difficult,” she said. |
Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/chu-tich-vesamo-mong-nhieu-nguoi-han-quoc-dong-hanh-cung-nan-nhan-da-cam-viet-nam-214512.html
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