KOREAN EMBASSY
NEWSLETTER
Address: 11th Floor, ASB Bank Tower, 2 Hunter Street, Wellington 6012, Tel: 04-473-9073, Fax: 04-472-3865 E-mail: researcher1-nz@mofa.go.kr, Website: www.koreanembassy.org.nz
Facebook: Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Zealand
Friday, 26 July 2013
I. 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice in Wanganui, Christchurch and Dunedin
[Photo] (Left) Ambassador Park delivering a speech for gratitude to the Veterans (right) Christchurch Korean Society President Judy Yun laying wreath
Ambassador Mr Yongkyu Park attended ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice in Wanganui, Christchurch and Dunedin.
On 13 July in Wanganui, organised by Mr Jim Nielsen, President of Wanganui KVA, the event was also attended by Hon Chester Borrows, Minister for Courts, Melissa Lee MP, Wanganui Deputy Mayor Rangi Wills, Korean Society President Kim Deok and about 60 Korean War Veterans from Wanganui, Palmerston North, Hastings and New Plymouth regions.
In Christchurch on 19 July, organised by Forbes Taylor, President of Christchurch KVA, Korean Society Presi- dent Judy Yun and about 70 Korean War Veterans and their families from the region attended the ceremony and laid wreaths.
[Photo]: (clockwise) 1. Ambassador Park with Korean War Veterans in Dunedin 2.with Councillor Rangi Wills, President of Wanganui KVA Jim Nielsen 3. with Hon Michael Woodhouse and Melisa Lee in Dunedin 4. Korean Traditional Music Perfornance Team in Christchurch
Ambassador Park delivered a speech at all the ceremonies expressing Korean People’s deep gratitude to the Veterans and stressing that their contribution is the foundation of the Korea-New Zealand
friendship.
Ambassador Park also briefed the Veterans on the latest situation of the Korean Peninsula and Presi- dent Park Geun-hye’s ‘The Korean Peninsula Trust-Building Process’.
After the official ceremonies, everyone enjoyed lunch together and watched special video clips about the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.
I. 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice in Wanganui, Christchurch and
Dunedin(continued)
[Photo]:
(right) Ambassador Park awarding a scholarship to the Korean delegate Suabi Salepoi Tuilaepa, a student from Samoa University
at AMUNC 2013
AMUNC 2013 has been taking place from 7 to 12 July in Wellington. The topic of the conference is
“Breaking Barriers” and brings together over 400 delegates from universities across the Pacific Rim and beyond.
Ambassador Mr. Park gave a lecture about “Diplomacy & UN in 21st Century International Relations”
and had a Q&A sessions at the workshop on 7 July. He also awarded a scholarship to the Korean delegate Suabi Salepoi Tuilaepa, a student from Samoa University.
After the lecture, former Prime Minister RT Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer, Foreign Affairs Chief Executive
II. Asia-Pacific Model UN Conference (AMUNC 2013)
[Photo]: Mr.Park is giving a lecture about "Korean Peninsula: South-North Relations & President Park's Trustpolitik" at the monthly meeting of Asia Forum
Ambassador Mr.Park gave a lecture about "Korean Peninsula: South-North Relations & President Park's Trustpolitik" at the monthly meeting of Asia Forum(Executive Chair, Farib Sos) on Thursday, 27 June.
His presentation was about the history of South-North Relations, the current situation on the Korean Peninsula and President Park Geun-hye's Trustpolitik policy.
Attendees from government, academia and business actively participated in the Q&A session and asked about possibilities of a North Korean Spring, positions of Korean people and relevant parties (United States, China, etc.) in regard to the reunification of North and South.
III. Asia Forum
“Korean Peninsula: South-North Relations & President Park’s Trustpolitik”
They are touched by the high respect and a deep sense of gratitude the Korean Government and people hold for them.
New Zealand has also contributed to the economic and social development of Korea by providing development assistance. In the 1960s and 1970s, about 300 Korean officials, scholars and experts stud- ied or trained in New Zealand under the Colombo Plan.
After President Park Chung-hee's visit to New Zealand in 1968, a pilot dairy farm in Pyongtaek, the first of its kind in Korea, was established with New Zealand's assistance.
On the international stage, New Zealand, a larger player than its size, continues to support our efforts to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. New Zealand and Korea maintain a close diplomatic partnership in regional and global forums as like-minded countries.
In parallel with Korea's rapid growth, our bilateral relations have expanded in all areas. Korea is one of the major economic partners for New Zealand as the fifth largest trading partner with a trade volume of $3 billion. Furthermore, there has been increasing co-operation in the areas of science and technol- ogy, defence industry, film and the Antarctic.
New Zealand enjoys an excellent national image as a peaceful and friendly country with a high quality of life, social and political stability, 100 per cent pure nature, cultural diversity, and an educational system of global standard. This is why New Zealand is one of the most popular destinations for Korean migrants, tourists, and students studying abroad.
Thanks to 30,000 ethnic Koreans living in New Zealand, 10,000 Korean students and 50,000 visitors from Korea annually, our people-to-people ties are flourishing. Recently the growing popularity of the
IV. “New Zealand and Korea; 60 years of Friendship forged in Blood”
by Ambassador Yongkyu Park
In New Zealand, a book titled The War That Never Ended: New Zealand Veterans Remember Korea was published early this year based on inter- views with 12 Kiwi Korean War veterans, and photo exhibitions are being held in Auckland and Wellington featuring images of the Korean War taken by a New Zealand veteran. On Saturday, a special commemorative service will be held at the National War Memorial in Wellington.
More than 6000 New Zealand troops served in the Korean War, which was the second largest contribution per capita. As the Korean Ambassa- dor to New Zealand, I take every opportunity to meet Kiwi veterans and convey my deepest gratitude for their sacrifice and courage. The veter- ans are very proud of what they did 60 years ago, which saved freedom and democracy in Korea and enabled Korea's miraculous transformation.
[Photo] Ambassador Yonkyu Park
In short, Korea and New Zealand enjoy one of the best bilateral relationships. However, it still has not reached its full potential with one missing link and that is a free trade agreement. Both countries are committed to free market economic policies and are proponents of free trade. Moreover, the two economies are highly complementary. A free trade agreement would not only help unlock unrealised potential in trade and investment, but it will also have positive effects on overall bilateral relations.
A mutually beneficial FTA will strengthen partnership in food security, energy and resources develop- ment, and provide opportunities for Korean companies to participate in various infrastructure projects in New Zealand.
New Zealand and Korea are natural and ideal partners, who can depend upon each other when in need, as we share not only common interests but also values. We are complementary in many respects and our relationship is anchored by mutual understanding and trust. As we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, it is time to refresh our long-standing friendship forged in blood and work together on a blueprint for our shared future.
This week Prime Minister John Key travels to Korea with 30 Korean War veterans to attend the com- memorations of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. During the visit the Prime Minister will hold talks with the new Korean President Park Geun-hye, an old friend of New Zealand. I am con- vinced that this visit will lay a solid foundation for further upgrading our strong ties.
[ This article was published by New Zealand Herald on 25 July.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10902664 ]
