Budding romance: Actress Nha Phuong and actor Kang Tae Oh from South Korea star in the series, Forever Young, set to premiere on Viet Nam Television on December 17. — Photo courtesy VTV

HA NOI (VNS)— The 36-episode TV series Tuoi Thanh Xuan (Forever Young), a co-operation between Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea, will premiere on Viet Nam Television on December 17.

The series focuses on young Vietnamese students in Seoul and their struggles in friendship and love.

The drama was co-produced by the Viet Nam Television Film Centre (VFC) and CJ E&M, one of the Republic of Korea's leading entertainment and media corporations. It is the second project on which VFC has co-operated with a foreign counterpart.

The co-operation marks a turning point in the quality of Viet Nam's TV series, as it is the first show made with professional cameras.

"The film proves once more time that the two countries share cultural similarities," said Tran Binh Minh, general director of Viet Nam Television."We plan to continue to co-operate with CJ E&M to develop film production in Viet Nam."

Vietnamese directors Nguyen Khai Anh and Bui Tien Huy, worked with Korean film director Myung Hyun Woo to produce the series, which promotes the beauty and culture of both countries.

The film crew chose autumn to make the series, the most beautiful season in South Korea. They filmed at many scenic spots including Namsan Tower, Sky Park, Nami Island and Namhan Sansung, which was recently recognised by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site. Well-known sites in Da Nang and Ha Noi including Sword Lake, Long Bien Bridge and the Old Quarter are also featured.

The series features well-known Korean actors including Kang Tae Oh, Lee Ah Hyun and Shon Jong Hag as well as Vietnamese stars such as Hong Dang, Viet Anh, Nha Phuong and Kim Tuyen.

Forever Young will soon be broadcast in South Korea as well as Southeast Asian nations.

In Viet Nam, the series will be broadcast on VTV3 every Wednesday and Thursday at 9.20pm starting December 17. — VNS