Daejeon city hosts photo exhibition on East Sea-related facts

The event, opened on June 26 at the Chungnam National University, is the sixth East Sea-themed photo display in the RoK so far. It was organised by the Vietnamese People’s Association in Daejeon city and the association of the descendants of the Ly Hoa Son (Hwasan Lee) family, whose ancestors came from Vietnam. 

The exhibition features 80 photos, including copies of old documents testifying to Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes in the East Sea. 

They also show how China is changing status quo by illegally building artificial islands and ramping up militarisation on Vietnam’s islands it unlawfully occupies in the East Sea. 

In addition, there are images of overseas Vietnamese protesting against China’s illicit actions and activities ensuring navigation freedom in the waters. 

Addressing an audience of some 1,000, Lee Soung Young (Vietnamese name Ly Thua Vinh), who chairs the association of the Ly Hoa Son family’s descendants, said the East Sea is an international shipping route important to all countries within or outside of the region. Maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the waters is the responsibility of all countries. 

Not only has China’s illegal construction negatively affected peace, stability and navigation safety in the waters, it has also adversely influenced the ecosystem and natural resources there, he added. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Pham Huu Chi took this chance to thank people in the RoK and other countries for supporting Vietnam in the East Sea issue in recent years.