The Vietnam government will open this week a Korean language research institute ― the country’s first state-backed institute for a foreign language ― as part of its efforts to expand cultural exchanges with Seoul, a state-run foundation here said Thursday.

As an affiliation of the Vietnamese government, the Korean language center will open in Hanoi on Sunday at a ceremony joined by some 100 members from both countries, according to the Korea Foundation.

“There have been many nongovernmental language institutes in Vietnam, but this is the first time for the Vietnamese government to officially approve of a foreign language institute,” an official at the foundation said.

“As the rare decision was obviously made to strengthen bilateral ties, we plan to fully support the institute so that it can play a positive role in the matter.”

Sponsored by the Korea Foundation, the language center will stock books and other materials related to the Korean language to help Vietnamese people become familiar with the language. The center also plans to publish a magazine to introduce Korean culture.

About 100 officials and scholars including Seoul’s Ambassador to Hanoi Han Chan-ho will be attending the opening ceremony Sunday, the Korea Foundation said.

By Shin Hae-in (hayney@heraldcorp.com)