The 2025 Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) friendship and outstanding enterprise awards, organised by the Economic Daily, were held in Seoul on December 10, honouring individuals and businesses with notable contributions in investment, job creation, technological innovation, finance-infrastructure development, and community engagement.
The outstanding enterprise awards were presented to 12 companies recognised for their achievements in the Vietnamese market, ethical corporate governance, efforts to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and effective implementation of community-oriented activities. Their contributions have helped enhance the global competitiveness of RoK enterprises and foster Vietnam-RoK economic cooperation.
The awardees include Daewoo E&C, which considers Vietnam a strategic hub for global urban development, with its flagship project Starlake City in Hanoi; Lock&Lock, which positions Vietnam as both a global manufacturing base and a key domestic market while strengthening an ESG-driven sustainable production system; and Lotte Group, which views the market as a core strategic one and has made large-scale investments such as the Eco Smart City project in Ho Chi Minh City, generating thousands of jobs.
Other honoured enterprises are Samsung Display, Shinhan Bank Vietnam, Shinhan Securities Vietnam, Hana Bank Vietnam, KIM Vietnam, Hansae, HS Hyosung, LS Group, and NH Investment & Securities.
Meanwhile, the friendship awards were presented to three individuals for their professional leadership, ethical management practices, commitment to social values, and significant contributions to bilateral economic and cultural cooperation.
The three honourees included Vo Van Quan, Director of the Dalat XQ embroidery museum, recognised for organising the annual Vietnam-RoK friendship festival since 2014 and establishing a Vietnam-RoK cultural friendship zone within the museum; and Dr Nguyen Thanh Dung, Vice President of Cuu Long University, honoured for promoting academic exchanges with numerous Korean universities and inviting Korean art troupes to the university’s 25th founding anniversary celebration, thereby laying a foundation for future cooperation between younger generations of both in academia and culture.
The third was Nguyen Viet Thung, general director of JV Link Global JSC, acknowledged for establishing a RoK culture and language training centre and facilitating connections between Vietnamese skilled workers and students with Korean enterprises and universities, serving as an important bridge in education, recruitment and industry cooperation between the two nations.
