Republic of Korean Speaker visits Parliament

The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Kang Chang-hee, is visiting New Zealand as a guest of the New Zealand Parliament this week.

The Speaker is travelling with a delegation of members of the Republic of Korea National Assembly and officials, hoping to gain a better understanding of New Zealand’s system of government. Prior to his official visit to New Zealand, Speaker Kang is travelling to Antarctica to open the Republic of Korea’s new research base, Jang Bogo.

Tonight the delegation will attend a formal dinner hosted by the New Zealand Speaker and attended by various members of Parliament. Tomorrow they spend a day at Parliament which will include a meeting with the Speaker, the Prime Minister, and members of the New Zealand-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group. The delegation will also observe question time in the House and attend a wreathlaying ceremony for Korean War veterans.

Speaker Rt Hon David Carter is pleased to host this visit:

“Visits of this kind serve to strengthen ties between parliaments and also assist in enhancing relationships between countries. New Zealand enjoys an excellent relationship with the Republic of Korea which dates back to the Korean War, where our veterans fought side-by-side together. This visit gives us the opportunity to pay our respects to these veterans, as well as provide an opportunity to examine how the New Zealand Parliament works in relation to the Republic of Korean system.”

The visit of the Speaker runs from 14 - 19 February and follows the recent visit to Korea by Prime Minister John Key in July 2013 and a parliamentary delegation led by Lindsay Tisch MP in January 2013.

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