2012 Year of Friendship

During their bilateral summit meeting in July 2010 President Lee Myung-bak of Korea and Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand designated 2012 as the Korea-New Zealand Year of Friendship. This occasion celebrates the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Events and activities celebrating this anniversary will be held in both countries throughout the year. This website will be regularly updated with information on the Year of Friendship.

Year of Friendship Activities

• NZIIA IFANS Roundtable Dialogue, 17 February 2012.
• Red Leap Theatre, 3-6 May 2012.
• The Kiwi Chamber of Commerce in Korea will be running a number of Year of Friendship activities during 2012.

This list will be regularly updated as the Year of Friendship progresses.

Background to Year of Friendship

New Zealand’s bilateral relationship with Korea is founded on strong political, economic, and security links. While these links go back as far as New Zealand’s participation in the Korean War, formal diplomatic relations were established in 1962.

The contemporary relationship is broad and deep. There is rich and vibrant engagement between our two countries in diverse fields such areas as government interactions, economics and trade, people-to-people links, film and culture, education, science and technology, and promotion of shared interests in regional and global issues.

See here for more information on the relationship between Korea and New Zealand.