국기게양식

REMARKS BY CONSUL GENERAL YOUNG KUK PARK

ON THE OCCASION OF KOREAN FLAG RAISING CEREMONY

PARRAMATTA 7^TH OCTOBER 2007

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Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

 

It is my honour to be invited to today’s Korean flag raising ceremony for the second time.  It is especially meaningful for me as just one year has passed since I arrived in Australia.  I would like to sincerely thank Lord Mayor Barber for continuing this tradition and I congratulate him on his recent appointment as Lord Mayor of the city of Parramatta.

 

This ceremony is unique because as far as I am aware, Parramatta City Council is the only local government in Sydney to honour the Korean community with the raising of the Korean flag.  In a world full of images and symbols, there is perhaps none more powerful than saluting the national flag of your ally and friend. 

 

This deeply respectful act honours the Korean residents of Parramatta and the wider Korean community in Sydney.  It celebrates and reinforces the closeness and shared values which underpin the strong relationship between Korea and Australia.  With this flag-raising Parramatta also honours its sister-city Jung-gu.

Being one year since the last ceremony, I have observed many positive signs about the health of the relationship between Korean and Australia.  I see that our friendship is deepening on many levels.  

 

Our trade and investment ties continue to strengthen.  Korea remains Australia’s third biggest export market.  Bilateral trade has increased to over 19 billion Australian dollars and is growing at over 19% per year.

 

Our people to people links continue to grow.  The number of Korean visitors to Australia is climbing every year with over 270,000 expected to arrive this year.  Significantly, Australians are visiting Korea in ever increasing numbers as tourists, English teachers and as part of the working holiday visa program.   I expect this very positive situation to continue. 

 

Of course there is always more that we can do to further improve our ties.  More can be done at the local level to increase understanding between the Korean and Australian communities.  With this objective in mind, over the past two weeks, a number of Korean cultural festivals have been held in Sydney and Eastwood.  These successful events were attended by Australians from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.  The Korean community was proud to showcase its music, cultural performances and food in a fun and festive atmosphere.

 

Also last Friday, the 5^th of October, we celebrated the first ever Korean Day.  This day was designated by the Korean Government to advance the affection and interest of the mother country to the 7 million overseas Koreans with the aim of strengthening their identity and pride as Koreans.  This week, from 3^rd October to 9^th October, has been designated as World Korean (Harim) Week.  Therefore from Korean Thanksgiving Day which occurred on 25^th September, to the end of World Korean Week, Koreans all around the world united to celebrate their  heritage and culture with great pride and festivity.

 

Today’s flag raising ceremony is a fitting conclusion to these past two weeks of Korean festivities; a closing ceremony, if you will.  It is my hope that this kind of Korean flag raising ceremony will be held all around the world with the help of sister-city relationships.  Parramatta City Council is a leader and pioneer in this respect and I hope other communities around the world with significant Korean populations can follow their example and hold similar ceremonies.

 

I am grateful to all of you who have attended today to mark this occasion. 

Thank you.