Songstress: South Korean soprano Sumi Jo will arrive in Ha Noi on October 25 to perform in the concert We Are Friends, which will take place at the Cultural Friendship Palace on October 27-28. — File Photo

HA NOI  (VNS)— South Korean soprano Sumi Jo will perform in a concert entitled We Are Friends at the Cultural Friendship Palace on October 27.

The concert, featuring soprano Jo and Vietnamese singer Duc Tuan, accompanied by the Viet Nam National Symphony Orchestra, is among cultural activities being held by the South Korean Embassy's Korean Cultural Centre to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Born in South Korea, the singer graduated at the Conservatory of the Academia di Santa Cecilia in Rome in 1986.

Jo has won first prizes at international competitions in Seoul, Naples, Enna, Barcelona and Pretoria. In 1986, she was awarded first prize in the Carlo Alberto Cappelli International Competition at Verona, open only to first prize-winners of other major competitions. She was elected as Artist for Peace of UNESCO in 2003.

Korean Language Day and the Korean Film Festival will be held in Ha Noi and HCM City this month. The language day will take place at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in HCM City on October 21 and in Ha Noi on October 27, and is expected to draw about 2,000 students from the Korean language departments of 20 colleges and universities throughout the country.

"Language is one of the most important means of changing and getting closer," said Jee Chang-sun, director of head of Korean International Culture Exchange Fund.

The film festival will screen seven Korean movies, including the comedy Gwanghae, Who Became King which was one of the biggest hits in South Korea in 2011, The Punch and Late Autumn.

The one-week festival will kick off on October 18 at HCM City's Crescent Mall and from December 6-8 at Ha Noi's Vincom Tower.

The Korea Tourism Organisation will host a Vietnamese-Korean Food Festival on November 3-4 in the Keangnam Landmark building.

The food festival would include an exhibition of Korean photos; K-pop performances and people can have their photo taken in Hanbok traditional costume, said Park Iearak, director of the Ha Noi office.

"The photo exhibition will display 50 photos introducing Korea and its people and history," he said.

A dance contest in Korean Psy's Gangnam Style was launched yesterday for Vietnamese youth by the Korea Tourism Organisation's Ha Noi Office.

Clips should be uploaded to Youtube before October 27.

Three best clips will be awarded VND15 million (US$700); 10 million ($500) and 7 million ($350). The winners will have chance to perform at the food festival. — VNS