1. The opening ceremony of the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Melbourne (headed by Jung Sung-sub) will be held on December 17, bringing together the Governor and other government officials of the Australian State of Victoria as well as leaders of the local Korean community and those from various other sectors. 

° On behalf of the ROK government, Ambassador to Australia Cho Tae-yong, Consul-General to Sydney Kim Jin-soo and Director-General for South Asian and Pacific Affairs Park Hae-yun will attend the ceremony.

2. The Consulate in Melbourne has been established to meet the need to expand consular services due to growing people-to-people exchanges between the ROK and the State of Victoria. The Consulate will serve to boost exchanges between the ROK and the State of Victoria, help Korean companies enter the Victoria market and provide consular service to resident Korean nationals.

3. The Consulate in Melbourne is the third ROK diplomatic mission after the Embassy and the Consulate General in Sydney to be established in Australia. It will facilitate easier access to consular services for Korean residents and businesspeople in the State of Victoria. It is also expected to contribute to boosting cooperation and exchanges between the ROK and the State.

                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation