(photo for illustration only. Source: vietbao)

An international seminar, themed “Prince Ly Long Tuong and Vietnamese-RoK relations from past to present”, took place on May 19 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Prince Ly Long Tuong left Vietnam and moved to the Republic of Korea in the 13th century. According to documents in Vietnam and the Republic of Korea, where the prince’s descendants still live today, Prince Ly Long Tuong, born in 1174, was the seventh son of King Ly Anh Tong. He had reigned from 1138-1175 and was the brother of King Ly Cao Tong and the uncle of King Ly Hue Tong.

He grew up when the Ly dynasty was coming to an end, eventually being replaced by the Tran dynasty in 1226. Prince Ly Long Tuong had made his escape by boat with several hundred followers and headed northwards to the RoK.

The Prince became a general serving the Korean King and helped him successfully fight off two Mongol invasions.

Ly Xuong Can, a 31st generation descendant of King Ly Thai To and a 26th generation descendant of Prince Ly Tong Tuong, was granted Vietnamese citizenship and now lives in Vietnam, working in investment in economic development as well as strengthening cultural exchanges and cooperative relations between Vietnam and the RoK .

The seminar enabled academics and students to understand more about this link from the distant past between the two countries, which are geographically quite far apart from each other, but have had turbulent histories.

Source: VNA