Letter from Choi Duk Shin to Mr. Vu Van Mau

TRANSLATION

Saigon, June 16, 1956

N^o KLS 0012

Excellency,

I have the honor to bring to the attention of Your Excellency the importance of the following fact:

I have noted in the Vietnamese and foreign presses in Saigon, the use of the terms “Sud Corée”, “Corée du Sud,” or South Korea”. These terms are not, Your Excellency, equitable to the name of our country.

The term “South Korea” suggests the idea of the existence of a “North Korea” indicating that there is a “divided” Korea. But there is no division. As you know there is a demarcation line in Korea, but it is a temporary and a military one. Moreover, it has been fixed by the Allies of the Second World War, against our will.

For these reasons, I would request Your Excellency to bring to the attention of these presses the reasons for an adjustment in the use of the above terms. The terms of “The Republic of Korea” (La République du Corée), or “Korea” (Corée) are always the accurate ones for the name of our country.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my high consideration.

Choi Duk Shin

Envoy Extraordinary and

Minister Plenipotentiary of

the Republic of Korea to Viet

Nam.

His Excellency

Mr. Vu Van Mau

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Republic of Vietnam

Saigon