South Korean Agricultural Attaché commends Vietnam’s bold steps toward sustainable development

The merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) marks a significant shift in the Vietnamese Government’s organizational structure. On this occasion, Vietnam Agri & Nature spoke with Mr. Kim Hyunwoo to hear his insights from the perspective of South Korea – one of Vietnam’s comprehensive strategic partners.

South Korean Minister of Agriculture hopes to visit Vietnam 

With agriculture and environmental management now consolidated under a single ministry in Vietnam, what are your thoughts on this change?

Attaché Kim Hyunwoo: Recently, I have observed that relevant agencies have been busy reorganizing the government structure. The new Minister of Agriculture and Environment has been appointed, and in the coming months, the restructuring process is expected to stabilize.

I hope that following the merger, our close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will grow stronger. South Korea and Vietnam share a comprehensive strategic partnership, and agricultural cooperation between our two countries is at an all-time high.

We have worked closely with MARD and its affiliated agencies across various sectors, including crop production, digital transformation, forestry, and animal quarantine, among other key areas. As a result, the merger of MARD and MONRE has been closely monitored by South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), and I regularly update MAFRA on this process.

Minister Song Mi-ryeong of MAFRA is will send a congratulatory letter to Vietnam’s newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Environment. Furthermore, following former MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan’s visit to South Korea last year, Minister Song Mi-ryeong plans to visit Vietnam as soon as possible to further strengthen agricultural cooperation between our two countries.

In your opinion, how will the merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment expand international cooperation in this field?

Attaché Kim Hyunwoo: While the establishment of the new Ministry of Agriculture and Environment marks a significant transition for Vietnam, I do not believe it will bring great changes tointernational cooperation in agriculture and environmental management.

Key issues such as sustainability, climate change adaptation, and carbon emission reduction have long been priorities in global agriculture. Even before the merger, both the MARD and MONRE were highly focused on these matters.

I believe that restructuring the government apparatus will not only uphold existing policy directions but also create greater synergy, allowing for more efficient implementation of these initiatives.

Last December, I attended the ODA Forum on Agriculture and Rural Development, hosted by the former Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. At the event, former Minister Le Minh Hoan emphasized that tackling challenges such as climate change, emissions reduction, and value chain improvement in agriculture requires extensive cooperation and support from international partners.

Therefore, I expect that integrating agricultural and environmental policies under a single ministry will enhance the effectiveness of international collaboration, helping Vietnam take stronger strides toward sustainable development.

Prioritizing sustainable agriculture policy

Based on South Korea’s experience, do you have any recommendations to Vietnamese policymakers during this transition?

Attaché Kim Hyunwoo: The merger of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment presents an opportunity for local officials to broaden their expertise across multiple disciplines, gaining exposure to new professional fields. In South Korea, government officials are required to rotate positions every two years. While this allows young professionals like myself to gain diverse experience, it also poses challenges in developing deep expertise in a specific area.

Agriculture and the environment are inherently interconnected. Even in South Korea, MAFRA and the Ministry of Environment collaborate across many sectors. MAFRA itself actively promotes policies aimed at enhancing sustainability in agriculture.

Historically, South Korea’s agricultural sector was primarily focused on increasing productivity. However, our priorities have now shifted toward policies that minimize environmental impact.

For example, MAFRA and the Ministry of Environment are jointly implementing a cattle manure recycling initiative, which helps reduce waste, minimize odors in livestock farming, and repurpose organic fertilizers to enrich soil health.

Additionally, resource-efficient policies – such as fertilizer and water conservation through smart agriculture technologies – are key areas of cooperation between the two ministries. Organic farming models are also being promoted as vital solutions for achieving sustainability in the agricultural sector.

I am aware that the Vietnamese Government is actively supporting and investing in smart agriculture and sustainable farming practices. I believe that the creation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will accelerate these efforts, driving stronger commitments to sustainability in Vietnam’s agricultural sector.

Could you please share some more typical cooperation projects supported by the South Korean Government in Vietnam?

Attaché Kim Hyunwoo: Vietnam’s economic and social development have made significant strides in recent years. Based on the policy directions of both the Vietnamese and South Korean Governments, as well as high-level discussions between ministries and agencies of the two countries, it is clear that high-tech agriculture, post-harvest agricultural processing, and animal disease control are key priorities for Vietnam. These are also areas where South Korea seeks to deepen cooperation with Vietnam.

A notable example is the project in Soc Son, where Korea has supported the modernization of the Central Veterinary Diagnostic Center. Additionally, the two countries are working together on an ODA project for smart animal husbandry in Ninh Binh, aimed at improving production efficiency and disease management in the livestock sector.

Another significant initiative is the “Smart Agriculture for Future Generations” project, which has completed two phases, delivering substantial economic benefits to over 30 households in Moc Chau, Son La.

During the first phase, Korea provided full financial support to help farmers improve and develop 35,000 square meters of safe vegetable greenhouses. In the second phase, Korea covered 50% of the funding, while Vietnamese farmers contributed the remaining investment.

We are now entering a new phase, focused on sustaining achievements and further enhancing the project’s positive impact. In this process, the role of farmers is crucial.

They have become the core drivers of smart agriculture, gaining expertise in operating high-tech greenhouses, implementing crop disease prevention techniques, optimizing nutrition, selecting high-quality varieties, improving post-harvest preservation, and accessing markets. With the shared goal of ensuring farmers’ livelihoods, Vietnam and Korea will remain key partners in this and many other fields.

Thank you!