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KOREAN EMBASSY NEWSLETTER
19 December 2011
‘SEOUL NUCLEAR SECURITY SUMMIT ROUNDTABLE’ HELD IN WELLINGTON
[Left]: Ambassador Park welcomes the guests with the opening remarks at Wellington Club,
[Right]: Attendants from NZIIA, CSS, New Zealand foreign ministry and foreign missions in Wellington
Co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA), ‘Seoul Nuclear Security Summit Roundtable’ was held in Wellington on 15 December. This roundtable meeting was to discuss the main agendas, objectives and prospective outcomes of the forthcoming Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Seoul in March 2012.
Ambassador Park also said that there are four objectives of the Seoul Summit; first is to reaffirm the principles of and commitments made at the Washington Summit, second is to build upon the achievements made in Washington by developing more practical implementation measures, and third is to restore public confidence in peaceful use of nuclear energy reflecting upon lessons learned from Fukushima nuclear accidents. Last mission is to establish a follow-up mechanism to realize our shared goals which will be enshrined in the Seoul Communiqué.
The Ambassador’s opening remarks was followed by a more detailed presentation on the background and preparations for the Seoul Summit by Counsellor Mr Jeong-han Ham of the Korean Embassy. With participation from more than 50 heads of state and international organizations, the Seoul Summit scheduled for 26 and 27 March 2012, will be the largest summit in the security field that discusses international cooperative measures to protect nuclear materials and facilities from terrorist groups.
In his opening remarks, Ambassdor Mr Yongkyu Park emphasized that, as the host nation of the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), the Korean Government is making every effort for the success of the Seoul Summit, and asked for full support and cooperation of all participating states and international organisations including New Zealand.
Visit the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit Website:
www.thenuclearsecuritysummit.org
[Right]: Sumi Jo Grand Concert held at the Auckland City Hall on 7 December
In the evening of 7 December, Sumi Jo’s Grand Concert together with the Auckland Philharmonia was held at the Auckland City Hall. Sumi Jo is a world-renowned Korean soprano and this was her first concert held in New Zealand.
About 1,200 people came to enjoy this remarkable concert, including Ambassadoar
AMBASSADOR PARK VISITS AUCKLAND
[Above:] Ambassador Park (middle) meets soprano Sumi Jo (left) and Auckland Korean community members who attended the concert, [Left above]: Sumi Jo in Auckland
On 8 December, Ambassador Park had a meeting with the Mayor of Auckland His Worship Len Brown at the Auckland Council. During this meeting, Ambassador Park expressed his gratitude to the Mayor for the Auckland Council’s continued support for the Korean community in Auckland where about 30,000 ethnic Koreans live.
He also explained Korean businesses’ keen interests in participating in Auckland’s infrastructure development projects such as transport and communication, which Mayor Len Brown is planning for the city.
He also asked the Mayor to visit Korea next year to strengthen the Sister City relationships with Busan and Pohang, as well as to promote trade and cultural relations between the two countries.
Mayor Len Brown said that the Auckland Council would like to cooperate in a number of projects including harbour improvement, marine industry, film and high-technology fields. He also responded that he will positively consider a visit to Korea next year.
[Photo]:
Ambassador Park (right) meeting Mayor of Auckldn His Worship Len Brown (left)
On Friday 9 December, Ambassador met with the members of Korean Studies Centre at the Auckland University. He had a meeting with Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute (NZAI) Professor Hugh Whittaker, Director of Korean Studies Centre Dr Richard Phillips, Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies (Korea) Dr Changzoo Song, Deputy Director of International Relations Mr Matthew O’Meagher and other faculty members of the Auckland University.
They discussed about ways to further expand cooperation between the
[Photo]: A meeting with the faculty members of the Korean Studies Centre at the Auckland University on 9 December
The Nelson branch of the New Zealand Korean War Veterans Association (NZKVA)’s end of year luncheon was held on 12 December. This luncheon was attended by 30 Korean War veterans and their spouses including Nelson President of NZKVA Mr Allan Vincent, South Island President Mr Clarrie Maskill, Ambassador Park and his wife. At the meeting Ambassador Park presented
‘Ambassador for Peace’ medals to five Korean War veterans.
NEW ZEALAND KOREAN WAR VETERANS IN NELSON AND DUNEDIN RECEIVE ‘AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE’ MEDALS
[Left]: Ambassador Park presenting ‘Ambassador for Peace’ medals to five veterans in Nelson
[Below]: Ambassador and his wife with Korean War veterans in Nelson
On 4 December, Counsellor Mr Jeong-han Ham of the Korean Embassy also visited Dunedin to attend the end of year meeting for the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Korean War Veterans’ Association (NZKVA). At the meeting attended by 40 veterans and their spouses, Counsellor Ham presented
‘Ambassador for Peace’ medals to 11 veterans, and it was followed by a
[Left]: Counsellor Jeong-han Ham speaks at the end of year meeting of the Dunedin branch of NZKVA on 4 December
[Right]: 11 Korean War veterans received ‘Ambassador for Peace’
medals at the meeting held in Dunedin
