A number of Vietnamese women married to Korean men and living in Jeju... recently returned home for a long awaited reunion. As part of an annual project at KCTV, they and their Korean families flew to their hometowns in Vietnam. Our news team accompanied a couple of the families. Lee Hee-jung reports.

[SLUG]
Can Tho, Vietnam

It took an entire day of transferring between three airports, long bus rides and a short scooter ride until we finally arrived at this small village in the south of Vietnam.

This is where Nguyen Titan Tian grew up. She moved to Jeju four years ago when she married her Korean husband. The girl that left for Korea a few years ago has since become a mother of two. Her parents break into happy tears as they see their daughter all grown up, with a family of her own.

INTERVIEW
Wing Tibik Twi / Nguyen Titan Tian’s mother
This is the first time I’ve seen my daughter in four years. I’m so happy! It’s wonderful that we can all meet like this. Thank you.
<인터뷰:윙티빅트위 (친정 어머니)
"4년만에 딸을 만나게 돼서 정말 기분이 좋고, 이렇게 가족들이 모일수 있는 기회가 돼서 오늘 정말 기쁩니다. 고맙습니다."

Despite the language barrier, warm feelings are shared as they share food at the table.

For Kim Ji-young, it’s hard to stop smiling at the thought of being back home.

[slug]
Hao Giang, Vietnam

She may be a mother of two, but in front her three elder brothers, she is still their little sister.

[Reporter]
Lee Hee-jung / Hao Giang, Vietnam

Though her husband wasn’t able to make it due to his work, Ji-young is grateful to her mother-in-law’s courtesy making the effort of bringing along ginseng to offer to her ill mother.

INTERVIEW
Shin Jeong-kang / Ji-young’s mother-in-law
My own mother passed away when I was about 5. I can only imagine how lonely it must have been for Ji-young’s mother alone without her daughter. I will try to send Ji-young home as often as possible and we can all visit each other.
<인터뷰:신정강 (시어머니)>
"나도 5살쯤에 어머니가 돌아가셨는데 딸 하나 있는거 한국땅에 보내 얼마나 외롭겠습니까. 그래서 나도 조건만 되면 자꾸 보내고 싶고 사돈도 초대할거고 그러면 되지않겠습니까"

[CAMERA]
Kim Yong-min

To express her appreciation, Ji-young prepares a bowl of Korean soup made with the seaweed she brought with her from Jeju.

The visits were organized by KCTV as part of a special ‘Sharing Project’.

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23 people from six local families visit home in Vietnam

This year, 23 family members from 6 Vietnamese multicultural families were selected to take part in the project… sponsored by the provincial government, Korean Air and Rotary International District 3662.

KCTV Lee Hee-jung, Vietnam