The New Zealand Embassy hosted a celebratory reception at Lotte Hotel Busan to mark the opening of the New Zealand Consulate in the city.

“Our linkages with Busan have expanded, and we want to intensify these further,” said New Zealand Ambassador Richard Mann.

The consulate is located on the third floor of the Wonyang Plaza in Amnam-dong, Seo-gu.

The event on April 14 was attended by over 100 guests including Busan City Mayor Hur Nam-sik and Foreign Ministry’s director general Park Hae-yun, and highlights the New Zealand government’s commitment to expanding its diplomatic presence in the Busan and Gyeongsang province region.

“We are honored that chairman Kim Jae-chul of Dongwon Group has accepted the invitation of the New Zealand Government to act as our honorary consul,” said Mann.

Kim is a well-known businessman with ties to New Zealand and has been honored on many occasions in Korea for his achievements and contributions to local business.

The consulate will provide consular services to New Zealand citizens in the region, and has general information available.

It will also serve to promote business links between New Zealand companies and Korean companies in Busan.

In accepting the appointment as honorary consul for New Zealand, Kim said, “I hope that the opening of New Zealand Consulate Busan will promote exchanges between Korea and New Zealand. I will work hard to bring mutual interest and co-prosperity to both Korea and New Zealand.”

The New Zealand Consulate Busan can be reached at (051) 600-3350, by fax at (051) 600-3377 or by emailing ysyun@dongwon.com.

By Yoav Cerralbo (yoav@heraldcorp.com)