Minister Meets Korean Scholarship Students

MEDIA RELEASE Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, will meet four Australian
students participating in the inaugural Young Australians in Korea program
at his of fice in Parliament House at 11:30 am today (February 13). Senator
Nick Minchin, a former AFS Exchange student, will also be present at the
meeting.


The students - Kate Lawrence, Mardi McMillan, Lara Rodda and Kate Wilkie
- depart for Korea on 18 February 1997. After one week's orientation in
Seoul, the students will be billeted with Korean families for 12 months,
while attending Junior Colleges in the regional cities of Taejon and Kyongju.
The students completed secondary school in 1996.


The Australia-Korea Foundation is funding the Australian Young Scholars
in Korea program, which is administered by AFS International Exchanges.
The program gives Australian school leavers, who have studied Korean up
to and including Year 12, the opportunity to live and study in Korea for
a year. Its aim is to assist the development of a pool of young Australians,
familiar with the Korean language and culture, who can contribute to Australia's
future relationship with Korea.


The successful candidates were selected on the basis of language ability,
personal qualities that will enable them to adjust to life in Korea, and
motivation to use their language skills and knowledge of Korea in their
future careers.


The Australia-Korea Foundation, was established by the Australian Government
in 1992. Its charter is to support and encourage activities that complement
the broad foreign, economic and trade policy objectives of the Government
through the pursuit of second track diplomacy - promoting individual and
group visits and exchanges and fostering institutional links in commerce
and industry, science and technology, education, the arts, media and sport.
The Foundation's Secretariat is located in the Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade.


There will be a brief photo opportunity at 11:30 am in the Minister's office.
Interviews with the students can also be arranged through the contacts listed
below.


Contacts: Stephen Huang, Director, Australia-Korea Foundation Carol McCormack,
AFS International Exchanges


Ph (06) 261 3831 Ph O411 387 110