A unification lecture conference was held in Australia on January 12 and in New Zealand on January 16 to identify the changes in the South-North Korean relationship after the North Korean nuclear experiment and missile launching, study the roles of overseas Koreans, and accept public opinions in overseas Korean society.

Held in Sydney, Australia, the “2017 New Year Celebration and Unification Lecture Conference in Australia” was attended by around 150 people including residents and social group representatives. It consisted of △Opening address by Australian Chapter Head Lee Suk-jin, △New Year greetings and congratulatory address by Yoon Sang-soo, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Sidney, △Chairman's award ceremony, △Report on the activities of the Australian Chapter, and △Special lecture by Secretary General Kwon Tae-oh.

• "Since its 16th term, which was launched in 2013, until the 17th term, the Australian Chapter has strived to reinforce the capabilities for public diplomacy and expand the foundation for unification on a consistent basis. It will continue to make various efforts for building the foundation for the performance of unification policies by the Korean government and for peaceful unification. We hope the council members will stay with us to the end to shed new light to our compatriots in the North through the adoption of the North Korean Human Rights Act in the Parliament of Australia," said Australian Chapter Head Lee Suk-jin in his opening address.

• On the other hand, in his New Year greetings and congratulatory address, Yoon Sang-soo, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Sidney, noted that the global economic recession and the structure of low growth are making the creation of jobs difficult, and the Korean Peninsula is facing stringent sanctions due to continuous provocations by North Korea. He also offered his congratulations on the successful hosting of the lecture conference. "This lecture conference is very timely since it is being held at an important period when the international society ought to deal with the nuclear issue and North Korean human rights issue in a comprehensive manner through a bigger frame of North Korean issues,” he added.

Next, in the “Awarding session for council members with merit in 2016,” council members Lee Mun-hwan and Jang Ik-jae, who made contributions to promoting the activities of the Australian Chapter and spreading awareness on unification, received chairman's awards.

• In his special lecture on “The Crisis in the Korean Peninsula,” Secretary General Kwon Tae-oh said that the anxiety of the international society on the Korean Peninsula is rising due to the nuclear and missile provocations by North Korea and explained the methods for overcoming the nuclear weapons and missiles of North Korea in three sections. He also gave explanations for facilitating understanding of the overseas Korean society on THAAD in the Korean Peninsula, emphasizing that the deployment of THAAD in the Korean Peninsula was determined as a minimum defensive measure for protecting the lives and safety of our citizens from the missile provocations of North Korea.

The “2017 New Year Celebration and Unification Lecture Conference in New Zealand” was held on January 16 in Auckland, New Zealand and attended by around 130 people including MP Melissa Lee of New Zealand, representatives of Korean communities, and residents.

The lecture conference consisted of △Opening address by Do Eon-tae, Head of the New Zealand Chapter, △Congratulatory address by Cha Chang-soon, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Auckland, △Congratulatory address by MP Melissa Lee of New Zealand, △Congratulatory address by Auckland Korean Community President Kim Sung-hyuk, △Chairman's award ceremony, and △Special lecture by Secretary General Kwon Tae-oh.

• "Beginning with the Wellington Unification Next-generation Forum, the 17th New Zealand Chapter has made much effort in improving North Korean human rights and promoting awareness on unification, such as the unanimous passing of the North Korean human rights resolution by the New Zealand Parliament, lecture by North Korean defectors for local people, and photo exhibition and cinema preview for Under the Sun," said New Zealand Chapter Head Do Eon-tae in his opening address. He expressed gratitude and delivered New Year greetings to council members who strived to promote awareness on unification even in difficult situations.

• "The Korean Peninsula is currently facing numerous risks, including the North Korean nuclear crisis, and this is a time when national security has high importance. All of the citizens and overseas Korean societies ought to gather their forces and willingness to promote efforts for denuclearization and wisdom for unification,” said Cha Chang-soon, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Auckland, in his congratulatory address.

• According to MP Melissa Lee of New Zealand, who attended the event to offer her congratulations, before becoming a member of the Parliament, she served as council member of NUAC and promoted the willingness for unification with other council members. In her congratulatory address, she conveyed her determination to do her best to help improve human rights in North Korea and achieve unification of the Korean Peninsula while living as a resident of New Zealand.

Receiving an award during the “Award ceremony for council members with merit in 2016” was Oh Chang-min, senior vice-president of the New Zealand Chapter who made efforts to solidify the overseas Korean society and revitalize the activities of the Chapter.