NZROK Friendship Society

The next public meeting of NZROK Friendship Society will be on Thursday, 15 August, 2024, 7.30pm, via Zoom. Look here for a Zoom link appearing a few days before the event. Also, details of the evening's programme will be published here. The meeting is likely to last little more than an hour. Welcome! Please put this date in your diary. Thank you. Richard L - Co-chairperson, with Ko Jung Mi, and on behalf of the NZROK FS planning group.

저의 새로운 우수 팬들에게 감사 인사를 전합니다! 💎 Peter Yu

Many non-Korean New Zealanders are realizing the benefits of Korean kimchi. Not only its taste. Kimchi can be found at a number of sources in New Zealand online and from stores.
This is one article that outlines the benefits of this characteristic Korean dish.

9 Surprising Benefits of Kimchi Kimchi is a Korean cabbage dish known for its pungent aroma and spicy kick. Here are 9 enticing benefits of kimchi.

This link goes to a Google album of photos from the K-Festival and K-Pop competition held at the Chartwell Cooperating Church in Kirikiriroa, Hamilton, today, 29 June 2024. It was a colourful, successful day:

K-Festival & K-Pop competition 29 June 2024 116 new items added to shared album

We wish our friends a rich and enjoyable Matariki. Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori.

The Maori New Year is a time for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand to cast their eyes to the sky to see the Matariki stars, to celebrate with friends with kai (food), and to remember loved people who have died and gone.

The Matariki stars and their significance are:

Pōhutukawa – those who have died.
Tupuārangi – connected to everything in the trees – fruits and birds.
Tupuānuku – food grown from the soil.
Waipuna-ā-Rangi – rain.
Ururangi – the winds.
Waitī – fresh water and fresh water kai.
Waitā - the ocean and kai moana.
Hiwa-i-te-Rangi – aspirations for the coming year.

There was a celebration of Peace Sunday at St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Hamilton, and the adjoining Link today in a combined service and then a meal together with Waikato Korean War Veterans. It was 74 years ago that war broke out in Korea, which has remained divided and on high alert since that time.

Many thanks to Revs. Kelly Gilson and Ham Tae Ju, along with Ko Jung Mi, Rev. Daniel Park and all other organizers and hosts of this event.

Guna Kwon from the Consulate of the Republic of Korea came from Auckland and spoke to the gathering, as did Tony Marchioni, representing Waikato Korean War Veterans. Ok Seung-ah performed a splendid Korean Fan Dance.

There were prayers for peace on the Korean peninsula, and reflections on the process of peace-making.

New ROK Consul-General Hong-ki Kim kindly hosted NZROK Friendship Society co-chairpersons, Richard Lawrence, and Ko Jung Mi, along with three ROK consulate staff, to a midday meal at Nami Restaurant in Hamilton today.

There's room for you if you have an English as an Additional Language at Fluency English Waikato on Tuesday mornings at the K-Centre, 5 Kingsford Mews. FEW I 9.30-10.50am / Morning Tea / FEW II 11.10-12.30pm.

Come along and meet us and see how it goes for you: find out more. Practise English in a safe, welcoming environment, meeting kind people and learning about the landscape and history of our city along the way.

NZROK Friendship Society Co-chairperson, Richard Lawrence, receives the book of poetry 'Kowhai' by Kim Yongjoo.

Yongjoo has been a poet, amongst many other things, for at least 38 years. After she ran out of copies of this book, Richard was keen to be the first to purchase a newly printed copy. Copies are available from Yongjoo for $20 and proceeds will go to NZROK Friendship Society. The poems are all in Korean language: it is hoped there will be an English translation in the future.

Please contact Yongjoo on Facebook via Messenger if you would like to purchase this treasure of Korean poetry. We greatly value Yongjoo's contribution as a member of the planning group of NZROK Friendship Society. The poems are all in Korean language: it is hoped

An excellent report on Satursday's Multicultural Mothers Day celebration in Hamilton

Waikato Multicultural Council's Mother's Day Celebration - The Bharat-New Zealand News (The BNZ News) The Waikato Multicultural Council's Mother's Day celebration, held on May 11th from 2 pm to 6 pm, brought together community members from diverse backgrounds for an afternoon of cultural festivities and heartfelt tributes. Organised with meticulous planning and enthusiasm, the event showcased the ri...

NZROK Friendship Society co-chairpersons, Ko Jung Mi and Richard Lawrence, were on the planning group for the Multicultural Mothers' Day event held yesterday at Fairfield Community Hall under the auspices of the Waikato Multicultural Council. Richard was an MC and Jung Mi greeted people as they arrived and gave them a sticker - 'Te Tiriti-based Multicultural day'.

Fluency English Waikato classes will resume this Tuesday, 7 May, at the Korean Centre (K-Centre), 5 Kingsford Mews, Hamilton East.
Term 2 - Weekly from 1 May to 25 June

If you have English as an Additional Language, people of all ethnicities are welcome. You are welcome to come to one or both classes on Tuesdays.

9.30-10.50am FEW I (Advanced Beginner level - mainly grammar)
Morning tea
11.10-12.30pm FEW II (Intermediate and above)

Authentic texts on local Waikato landscape, geography and history.
We (FEW II) will be watching and learning from the Chasing Time English production, 'Day's Crossing'.

Costs = $5 per hour of class time.

Please message me Richard if you'd like more information or clarification.

NZROK FS Co-chairperson, Richard Lawrence, laid a wreath on behalf of our society this morning. The inscription with the wreath read:

"In loving memory of the New Zealanders who served and died in the Korean War (1950-1953) and in all other wars.

From the New Zealand Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Friendship NZROK Friendship Society"

The beautiful wreath was made by a local Korean florist.

A good number of people attended the ANZAC Day Civil Ceremony in Hamilton, Kirikiriroa, this morning at 10am.

Co-chairperson, Richard Lawrence represented the NZROK Friendship Society at the ceremony. Ko Jung Mi (also NZROK FS) represented the Waikato Korean Association and laid a wreath on their behalf.

Richard Lawrence's summary statements about the Korean people he has known in New Zealand over the last 30 years, from a talk given at our last NZROK Friendship Society meeting last Thursday, 18 April, 2024:

First - Korean people love and are proud of their culture and language.

첫번째 - 한국 문화와 언어에 대한 사랑과 자긍심



Secondly - Korean people value democratic freedoms.

두번째 - 민주주의적 자유의 가치를 중시함

Thirdly - Korean people are bold and they don’t waste time.

세번째 - 과감하고 신속한 행동력

Fourthly - Korean people value education.

네번째 - 교육의 가치를 중시

Fifthly - Korean people are hospitable and generous.

다섯번째 - 친절하고 너그러움

We will learn and sing this song on 18 April at our next NZROK Friendship Society meeting. This video traces the history of the song.

The Story of Arirang ArirangThe Name of KoreanKorean Traditional Folk Song.Main Theme Song of 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xeu3aSBTzaM

At our meeting on 18 April, we will learn and sing the Korean folk song 'Arirang'. This music below is for people who play the flute or recorder. Play along in the comfort of your own home.

Korean Folk Song "Arirang" Play Along with Recorders using E pentatonic scales

An historical introduction to the song, 'Arirang', a song sung and heard all over Korea.

Arirang, lyrical folk song in the Republic of Korea UNESCO: Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - 2012URL: http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/RL/00445Description: Arirang is a po...

We wish everyone a happy Easter.
행복한 부활절.

The next public meeting of NZROK Friendship Society is on Thursday, 18 April, 2024, at Trust Waikato Buildings, 4 Little London Lane, at 7.30pm. Guest speaker, fun, learning. A warm welcome to you. Please put this date in your diary.

Fluency English Waikato EAL classes will start again at the K-Centre, 5 Kingsford Mews, at 9.30am on Tuesday 5 March, for five weeks in this term.
FEW I 9.30-10.50am - focus on grammar at beginner level.
Morning tea together. You are welcome to come to one or both classes.
FEW II 11.10-12.30pm - focus on reading and discussion on topics related to life in New Zealand, at intermediate level and above. Students of any ethnicity are welcome.
During the five weeks we will have at least one outing, to the Waikato Museum and the Art Gallery, with coffee.
Please message me, Richard Lawrence, if you have any questions. A warm welcome to you. You will receive a more detailed program on the first morning. There are no formal assessments. Welcome!

Kim Yongjoo showed the planning group her newly published book, 코화이 - 'Kowhai'- a collection of her poems over the years. Congratulations, Yongjoo! More information coming. Written in Korean, there will be an English translation in due course.

Members of the NZROK Friendship Society planning group 2024 met at the Bank in Kirikiriroa Hamilton to start planning for this new year and to enjoy a new year celebration.