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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

Asian Culture Flourishes in New Zealand

Most Koreans have a very favorable impression of New Zealand, so much so that it is often referred to in Korea as ?he last paradise on earth.?Many Koreans want to visit the country while others have fantasized about what it would be like to actually settle down there. Recent media reports have indicated that New Zealand is the fourth-most popular destination for emigration among Koreans, following Canada, the United States, and Australia. But while New Zealand continues to be a popular place for Koreans, I think few people are actually aware that New Zealand is among Korea? five-largest trading partners and that the two countries have very close and complementary economic relations.

New Zealand is located in the southern hemisphere, a long way from Korea. It is larger in size than Korea but has a population of just 3.8 million. In this respect, it could be called a small country, but New Zealand is also an advanced country and a member of the OECD with a standard of living that ranks among the top in the world. New Zealand dispatched troops to fight in the Korean War, and in 1962 Wellington established official diplomatic relations with Seoul. Korean emigration to New Zealand began to take off in 1986, when many Koreans began to really learn about the country.

Last year, I had the good fortune to spend two months in this ?aradise on earth,?which is also one of Korea? major trading partners, on a training program assignment that consisted of six weeks of English-language instruction and two weeks at the Asia 2000 Foundation of New Zealand (Asia 2000).1) The two weeks spent at the Asia 2000 flew by quickly, and looking back I realize that those two weeks were the most memorable and fruitful of my stay.
The name of the Asia 2000 Foundation is a good indication of the importance that Asia receives in New Zealand? foreign policy. While New Zealand boasts of a clean environment and high standard of living, it has a small domestic market and relies heavily on primary industries, which makes it more dependent on other countries than does Korea. New Zealand is particularly reliant on Asia, which accounts for 40 percent of its exports. So when the international economy, especially Asia, is unstable, the negative effects are felt quickly in New Zealand.

With the help of New Zealand? immigration promotion policy, many Asians have settled in the country and now form a growing part of its culture. Considering that the number of Asians entering New Zealand, especially students attending university or studying English, continues to grow every year and contribute to the country? economy,2) it is perhaps inevitable for New Zealand to place so much importance on Asia.
By arranging for visits to cultural organizations and meetings with related figures, the Asia 2000 made it possible for me to gain an overview of New Zealand? cultural and art scene, as well as acquire an understanding of the need to promote cultural exchange with Korea. The foundation? detailed itinerary reflected the input of much consideration and thought. To provide an overall understanding of New Zealand culture and art, many visits were arranged to museums, art galleries, culture-related organizations, and government ministries, and to promote enhanced relations between Korea and New Zealand, there were visits to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade and Korea Trade Commis-sion. Through a meeting with a representative of the Korean community in New Zealand and time spent with local Koreans, I was able to gain a better understanding of what life was like for Koreans in New Zealand.

In my visits to various cultural organizations, I received the impression that cultural exchange between Korea and New Zealand was less active than I had originally thought. The people I met all said that although they were keen on the idea of cultural exchange with Korea, they did not know how to go about it or even whom to contact. This was the main reason that exchanges had not been as active as they could have been. Of course, the distance between the two countries plays some part, but it is also true that Korea has in the past concentrated its exchange efforts on so-called ?ajor countries?and that New Zealand, because of a lack of information, had not actively pursued cultural exchanges with Korea. As a result, there has been no cultural exchange at all between the two countries for some time now, and the lack of information about and awareness of each other? country have unfortunately grown more pronounced.

Before visiting New Zealand, I had no idea that so many Asians lived there. I had thought New Zealand was home to mainly European immigrants and Maoris, who were the country? original inhabitants. But during my two months there I discovered New Zealand to be a country of diverse cultures existing side-by-side in harmony ― European, Maori, South Pacific, and Asian. Seeing how Asian culture had carved out a place of its own alongside these other cultures, I was curious to see what awareness there was of Korea and Korean culture.

One good way to do this was to compare awareness of Korean food to that from other countries. As a multicultural country, the food available in New Zealand is diverse and the range of choice wide. Chinese food is the most commonly found Asian food there and most restaurants with signs reading ?sian food?are in fact Chinese restaurants. This is only natural considering the long history of Chinese immigration to New Zealand.3) As for Japanese food, sushi has long been a favorite take-out food, popular with those looking for something simple for lunch. There is a great variety available and long lines form outside sushi restaurants. In addition, Cambodian, Thai, Malaysian, Vietnamese, and Indian food are also very popular. All these foods have one thing in common -- they have all been successfully adapted to suit local tastes without sacrificing their original flavor. At one Indian restaurant, for example, the hosts ask if you would like Indian-style sauce or New Zealand-style sauce with your food.

But what about Korean food? It may be because the history of Korean immigration to New Zealand is more recent, but Korean food does not seem to enjoy the status of other Asian foods in New Zealand, while awareness of it is relatively low. Many people had a preconception that Korean food was spicy, which prevented them from even trying it. In the capital city of Welling-ton, there are only two Korean restaurants, which I found to be rather disappointing, particularly since only a token effort had been made to decorate them with a few photos of Korean women in traditional dress, hanbok, and a few round taeguk fans. The menu, too, only offered dishes favored by Koreans, who comprised the majority of the clientele. In Auckland, which is New Zealand? largest city and where most Koreans in New Zealand reside, and in Christ-church, which is the largest city on New Zealand? South Island and home to the second-largest Korean population, the situation is not much different. This makes me wonder whether Korean food can really be globalized, as it seems that
Korean food has not yet reached the point in which it can appeal to the tastes of an international clientele.

In any case, it would be helpful for Koreans to change their perception of New Zealand, away from being the subject of popular fantasy or a place one simply would like to visit. Instead, Koreans should take a more active approach toward promoting exchanges with the country. Already, New Zealand recognizes the importance of Asia and is actively seeking cultural exchange with countries in the region. Asian culture has already made a significant impact in New Zealand while residents are increasingly making efforts to understand it better. The number of Koreans relocating to New Zealand is also growing every year. All things considered, there would seem to be no better time than now to promote a better understanding of Korea and Korean culture in New Zealand.



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1) The Asia 2000 Foundation of New Zealand is a non-profit, international exchange organization established on September 21, 1994, to implement various projects under the auspices of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade? ?sia 2000?policy.

2) According to a survey conducted by the Asia 2000 Foundation in April 2000, New Zealanders considered Asia to be the most important region for the future of their country, followed by the South Pacific, Europe, and North America.

3) The Chinese began to settle in New Zealand as early as 1860, drawn by the discovery of gold fields on South Island.

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