A collection of photographs capturing meetings between trans-Vietnam cyclists and Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims taken by Lee Jong-hun are on display at an exhibition that opened in the Republic of Korea on March 2. The exhibition is being held by the Vietnamese Embassy in South Korea in conjunction with MBC Nanum Broadcasting Company. Lee Jong-hun took the photos when he joined 20 Vietnamese and South Korea bike riders on their 1,750km journey across Vietnam last November. The riders, representing AO victims, Vietnam-South Korea families and the two countries’ students, had opportunities to meet Vietnamese AO victims during their 26-day journey. Speaking at the event, MBC Nanum Director Kim Ji-wan stressed the significance of the event that took place on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and South Korea. Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Trong Toan said that although the war ended over 40 years ago, its consequences live on in 1.3 million Vietnamese people exposed to this toxic agent. Thousands of South Korea AO victims are also suffering the same plight, he added. The ambassador expressed his hope that the exhibition will help the two countries’ people and international friends understand more about the victims’ suffering. The exhibition will be open until March 4. (vietnamplus.vn Mar 2)
