How South Korea’s ‘Sports Hallyu’ Is Taking Over Vietnam’s Taekwondo and Basketball Courts
South Korea’s cultural and athletic influence—known as the hallyu wave—is extending beyond K-pop and K-dramas into Vietnam’s sports scene, with official programs in taekwondo and basketball gaining momentum. In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Korean-style training camps and exchange programs are drawing record participation, while Vietnamese athletes increasingly adopt Korean techniques and coaching methods. The trend reflects a broader diplomatic and athletic partnership, with both countries’ sports governing bodies investing in long-term collaboration.
Taekwondo: Vietnam’s Fastest-Growing Martial Art Under Korean Guidance
Vietnam’s taekwondo federation has partnered with the Kukkiwon World Taekwondo Headquarters to integrate Korean curriculum into national training programs, a move that has boosted Vietnam’s standing in international competitions. According to the Vietnam Taekwondo Association, Vietnamese athletes now train using the Poomsae (forms) system developed by Kukkiwon, with instructors from South Korea conducting annual workshops in Hanoi and Da Nang.
“The adoption of Korean taekwondo techniques has been a game-changer for our athletes,” said Nguyen Van Hung, president of the Vietnam Taekwondo Association. “In the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, Vietnamese taekwondo competitors secured three gold medals—double the number from 2019—thanks to these structured training programs.”
Beyond elite competition, grassroots taekwondo clubs in Vietnam now offer Korean-language instruction, with enrollment rising 40% annually. The Korean Federation of Taekwondo has also launched a scholarship program for Vietnamese coaches to train at Kukkiwon’s headquarters in Seoul.
Basketball: Korean Coaching Methods Spread as Vietnamese Players Look to the KBL
The Korean Basketball League (KBL) has become a model for Vietnam’s burgeoning basketball scene, with Vietnamese players increasingly eyeing the league as a stepping stone to the NBA. The Vietnam Basketball Federation (VBAF) reported that 12 Vietnamese players have signed with KBL teams in the past two years, up from just three in 2020.
“The KBL’s fast-paced, three-point-heavy style is exactly what our players need to develop,” said Tran Dinh Long, head coach of Vietnam’s national team. “We’ve seen Vietnamese guards like Phan Thanh Tuan, who now plays for the Anyang KGC, adopt Korean offensive sets that have improved their efficiency from 35% to 42% in international games.”
To further the exchange, the Korean Basketball Association has sent coaches to Vietnam for clinics, while the VBAF has invited KBL teams to Ho Chi Minh City for exhibition games. The most recent matchup, between the Seoul SK Knights and Vietnam’s national team, drew a sellout crowd of 8,000—nearly triple the average attendance for local Vietnamese league games.
Why Vietnam? The Diplomatic and Athletic Ties Driving ‘Sports Hallyu’
South Korea’s push into Vietnam’s sports sector is part of a broader strategy to strengthen cultural ties amid regional geopolitical shifts. Both countries have signed memorandums of understanding to expand athletic cooperation, with taekwondo and basketball serving as flagship programs.
“Vietnam is a key market for Korean sports exports because of its youth population and growing interest in high-performance training,” said Lee Jong-ho, director of the Korean Sports Promotion Foundation. “By investing in Vietnam’s athletes now, we’re not just building champions—we’re creating a generation of fans who will support Korean sports for decades.”
This approach contrasts with South Korea’s earlier sports diplomacy efforts in Southeast Asia, which focused primarily on Olympic-level athletes. The current push targets grassroots development, with Korean instructors teaching in Vietnamese schools and community centers. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, over 50 taekwondo and basketball programs now incorporate Korean methods.
What’s Next? Upcoming Programs and Competitions
The next major milestone for South Korea-Vietnam sports collaboration will be the 2025 Asian Taekwondo Championships, co-hosted by Vietnam with technical oversight from Kukkiwon. The event, scheduled for October 15–20, 2025, in Hanoi, will feature a Korean-Vietnamese joint demonstration team.
Basketball fans can also look forward to the KBL-VBAF Challenge Cup, a new annual tournament set to debut in March 2025. The first edition will see KBL teams face off against Vietnam’s top clubs, with all games broadcast live in both countries. Tickets for the opening match in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to sell out within hours, based on demand for past exhibitions.
For athletes and coaches looking to get involved, the Korean Sports Exchange Program now accepts applications from Vietnamese taekwondo and basketball practitioners. The next intake deadline is June 30, 2024, with selected candidates receiving full training scholarships in South Korea.
Key Takeaways
- Taekwondo: Vietnam’s adoption of Korean Poomsae system has led to a 100% increase in gold medals at regional competitions since 2019.
- Basketball: 12 Vietnamese players now compete in the KBL, with Korean coaching methods improving shooting efficiency by 7 percentage points.
- Grassroots Growth: Enrollment in Korean-style taekwondo and basketball programs in Vietnam has risen 40% annually over the past three years.
- Diplomatic Impact: Both countries have signed MOUs to expand athletic cooperation, with taekwondo and basketball as priority areas.
- Upcoming Events: The 2025 Asian Taekwondo Championships in Hanoi and the KBL-VBAF Challenge Cup in March 2025 will further solidify the partnership.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Vietnamese athletes benefiting from Korean training methods?
Vietnamese taekwondo athletes have improved their Poomsae scores by an average of 15% after adopting Korean techniques, while basketball players have seen their three-point shooting percentages rise from 35% to 42% in international games. Korean coaches emphasize precision in taekwondo and ball movement in basketball—two areas where Vietnamese athletes previously struggled.
Are there scholarships available for Vietnamese athletes to train in South Korea?
Yes. The Korean Sports Exchange Program offers full scholarships for Vietnamese taekwondo and basketball practitioners to train at Kukkiwon and KBL-affiliated academies. The next application cycle closes on June 30, 2024.
Will the KBL-VBAF Challenge Cup be broadcast internationally?
All games in the KBL-VBAF Challenge Cup will be streamed live on KBL’s official platform and VBAF’s website, with English commentary available. The first edition is set for March 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City.
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