By Jang Cheol-ho
Vietnam seems near: Its booming economy, tourist attractions, and noodle franchises are everywhere in Korea, and Vietnamese people are featured in TV soaps etc. This year, my mother in law traveled to Halong Bay. Vietnam was once seemed distant but now comes closer and closer. This Vietnamese influence always reminds me of Vi.
Nowadays, I exchange e-mails with Vi. He stayed three months in my company about two years ago. Then Korea and Vietnam came to an agreement to cooperate in the power industry. As a part of the agreement, Vietnamese engineers were sent to my company to get training as regards power plant design. I was involved in giving some of these training classes. They were bright and Vi was impressive. He was the youngest and most curious.
I gave lessons and asked questions to know how much they understood. Vi answered right and asked me relevant questions. I explained the workings of a power plant: one of the major elements involved is the temperature of seawater. The sea temperature is crucial for the design of the condenser. Vi asked solemnly: ``The seawater temperature in Vietnam is different from that in Korea. It must be higher. How will we decide the design temperature of a condenser in our country.'' I was surprised by his pointed question and I briefed the procedure to decide the design temperature and the next day I explained it further with reference to our actual engineering products.
I showed him around my company: the computer system, the library, where I sit. I encouraged him to send e-mails to manufacturers to get brochures for equipment. If an engineer is familiar with the structure of machines, it can be very helpful. When we walked together, he asked me about Korean letters he saw like an elementary student learning the alphabet. He studied the Korean alphabet by himself.
After he left Korea, he wrote that he got married and was involved in a project with a Korean company. He would say the training in Korea would help him much in his career. His mail intrigue me on the nation.
The other day, I watched a program on TV about roaring industrial development in Vietnam. The nation is developing very fast through overseas investment. The program showed some businessmen, government officers and students etc. A businessman, who studied in Korea, introduced Korean construction material and founded a company. His business is thriving. A policy maker who was interviewed said ``we have many talented youths. They will develop our nation.''
Ho Chi Min, even during the Vietnam War, sent young students oversea. He was sure that they would win the victory over this absurd war. After the war, they had a plan to restore the war-torn country. The students said that it was ``Uncle Ho scholarship students'' who played the main role after the war. I am sure that the future of their nation is bright with such keen youths as Vi. I am proud I took a part so that Vietnam and Korea will be brought closer.
The writer is an engineer at Korea Power Engineering Company. He can be reached at atom@webmail.kopec.co.kr