SOUNDS OF FRIENDSHIP - ‘KOREA-NZ YEAR OF FRIENDSHIP 2012’ CELEBRATION
KOREA-NEW ZEALAND YEAR OF FRIENDSHIP 2012 Celebrating the 50th Anniversary
of the Diplomatic Relationship
KOREAN EMBASSY NEWSLETTER
Address: 11th Floor, ASB Bank Tower, 2 Hunter Street, Wellington 6011, NZ , Tel: 04-473-9073, Fax: 04-472-3865 E-mail: researcher@koreanembassy.org.nz, Website: www.koreanembassy.org.nz, Facebook: www.facebook.com/nzkoreanembassy
13 June 2012
Sounds of Friendship, the official celebration of the ‘Korea-New Zealand Year of Friendship 2012’, was successfully held in three major cities of New Zealand, Auckland (3 June), Christchurch (5 June) and Wellington (8 June). Featuring by Korean world music group GongMyoung and the world-renowned Korean b-boy group Gorilla Crew along with a pasori singer Miss Eun-hye Jung and a string quartet, ‘Sounds of Friendship’ events were praised by thousands of guests who enjoyed the shows which have drawn media attention both in Korea and New Zealand. These events were hosted by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports
& Tourism and the Korean Embassy as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Korea-New Zealand diplomatic relations.
The kick-off show in Auckland on 3 June was enjoyed by over 1,000 people including Korean War veterans and Auckland Council members. The Christchurch event held on 5 June was attended by over 2,000 people including Mr Clayton Cosgrove MP and Melissa Lee MP who gave congratulatory speeches. The Christchurch event was actively supported by the Korean Society of Christchurch.
[Photos] Clockwise - GongMyoung,
Gorilla Crew, Pansori singer Miss
Eun-hye Jung and a string quartet
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Even if the snowy weather befell New Zealand during that week, the fever of Sounds of Friendship continued in Wellington as a proof of the strong friendship between the two countries.
The two hosts, Ambassador Mr Yongkyu Park and the Assistant Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism Mr Jin Young Woo welcomed over 1,200 guests at the Wellington event held at Michael Fowler Centre on 8 June. Ambassador Park said that the friendship between Korea and New Zealand is very strong and hoped that cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries will be increased further. Assistant Minister Mr Jin Young Woo, who was visiting New Zealand to attend this event, also emphasized the importance of understanding cultures between the two peoples.
Ms Melissa Lee MP, Mr Clayton Cosgtove and Mayor of Wellington Her Worship Celia Wade Brown, who gave congratulatory speeches in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington respectively, welcomed the ‘Korea-New Zealand Year of Friendship 2012’ celebrations and expressed their gratitudes to the Korean Government for making the events possible.
Highlights of the events included GongMyoung’s playing unique musical instruments of their own creation to make Korean traditional sounds, Gorilla Crew’s dynamic b-boying performance and Korean pansori singer Miss Eun-hye Jung singing Pokarekare Ana, the song loved by both New Zealanders and Koreans.
[Photo]: Assistant Minister Mr Jin-yung Woo, Ms Melissa Lee MP, Ambassador Mr Yongkyu Park, Mayor of Wellington Her Worship Celia Wade Brown and Mr Clayton Cosgrove MP
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM VISITS NEW ZEALAND
Assistant Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism and Director of Korean Culture and Information Service Mr Jin Young Woo visited Wellington from 7 to 9 June. During the visit, he met Mr Lewis Holden Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture &
Heritage on 7 June. They discussed ways to increase cultural exchanges between Korea and New Zealand.
On 8 June, Assistant Minister Mr Woo visited Archive New Zealand, and later on that day, he also had a meeting with Ms Adele Mason Acting Executive Director of Asia New Zealand Foundation.
AMBASSADOR PARK VISITS THE UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY IN CHRISTCHURCH
Ambassador Mr Yongkyu Park visited the University of Canterbury on 5 June and gave a lecture about Korea.
Before his lecture held at Undercroft, Ambassador Park met Professor Jim Tully Head of the School of Social and Political Sciences and Ms Julianna Malone International Relationships Coordinator to discuss ways to increase student exchanges between the University of Canterbury and Korean universities.
During his lecture, Ambassador Park explained about Korea and New Zealand’s bilateral relations and ways to develop the relationship further. He then had a Q & A session and an interview with UC Korea.
About 100 people attended the lecture including students and faculty members of the University, and Korean community members in Christchurch.
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Ambassador Mr Yongkyu Park visited Wanganui to attend a New Zealand Korean War Veterans Association (NZKVA) meeting held on 11 June.
This meeting was attended by over 50 Korean War veterans from Palmerston North and New Plymouth, Ms Melissa Lee MP, Mr Deog (Douglas) Kim President of the Korean Society in Wanganui, members of the Wanganui Council and a media (Wanganui Chronicle).
At the speech, Ambassador Park thanked the veterans for their sacrifice during the Korean War, and he explained this year’s special events throughout New Zealand to celebrate the
‘Korea-New Zealand Year of Friendship’.
AMBASSADOR PARK ATTENDS NZKVA MEETING IN WANGANUI
[Photo]: Ambassador Park with the members of New Zealand Korean War Veterans Association in Wanganui
