Nguyễn Ngọc Nhựt, a double‑amputee from Cần Thơ, has overcome years of hardship to begin a new chapter in South Korea. Twelve years after losing both arms in a construction accident at age 16, he arrived at Incheon Airport to start a preparatory year at Hanbat University, working toward a master's degree.
Nhựt's journey has been marked by resilience. After his accident, he relearned basic tasks and turned to education despite repeated setbacks. He quit school at 15 to work as a welder, but after the accident and long hospital stays, he spent years studying at a continuing education center. Initially shy and struggling academically, he pushed on, inspired by his mother's hope that he would finish high school.
His persistence paid off: in 2020 he placed third in a city math competition and entered HUTECH's marketing program in HCMC, supporting himself with scholarships and help from friends despite mental and financial struggles. A small act of kindness from a lottery vendor renewed his will to stay in the city.
A failed visa application in 2023 and multiple failed attempts at the TOPIK 4 Korean exam did not stop him. On his fifth try, he passed. Now in Seoul, Nhựt uses the stump of his right arm to practice writing Korean, determined to pursue higher education.
Friends say he stands out not for his disability, but for his courage and relentless drive to fulfill his dreams.