Australia-Korea Business Council

Australia-Korea Business Council The Australia-Korea Business Council exists on behalf of its members and seeks to develop business re

📢 EVENT 📢The Australia–Korea Business Council (AKBC), in partnership with AKBC Member, ANZ Bank, is pleased to co-host t...
27/02/2026

📢 EVENT 📢

The Australia–Korea Business Council (AKBC), in partnership with AKBC Member, ANZ Bank, is pleased to co-host the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K‑SURE) for a series of financing seminars in Sydney and Perth. Please note that this event is for AKBC Members only. If you are not a member and wish to join this event, please enquire here. https://www.akbc.com.au/become-member

K‑SURE is the export credit agency of the Government of the Republic of Korea and plays a significant role in supporting Korean trade and investment globally.

With recent enhancements to its support offerings, including new insurance options for loans to companies with future potential to import from Korea, this is an important opportunity for Australian companies to engage directly with K‑SURE leadership.

Join us in Sydney or Perth to hear from K‑SURE’s Deputy President, Mr. Jaeyong Jung, and Mr. Woo Jae Byeon, Director of the Project Coordination Department on how K‑SURE supports the financing of companies and projects in Australia.

Event Details – Sydney
📅 Date: Tuesday, 17 March
🕥 Time: 10.30 AM – 12.30 PM
📍 Location: ANZ Tower, 242 Pitt Street, Sydney
💡 Price: FREE for AKBC Members Only
👉 Register now: https://akbc.glueup.com/event/k-sure-financing-seminar-in-sydney-171859/

Event Details – Perth
📅 Date: Wednesday, 18 March
🕥 Time: 10.30 AM – 12.30 PM
📍 Location: DLA Piper, 240 St Georges Terrace, Perth
💡 Price: FREE for AKBC Members Only
👉 Register now: https://akbc.glueup.com/event/k-sure-financing-seminar-in-perth-171864/

Please register by COB Tuesday, 10 March to secure your place.

If you plan to attend both events, you must register separately for each.

🇦🇺🇰🇷

📅 Plan ahead for March: Korean public holidays 📅  Independence Movement Day (Samiljeol) is one of South Korea’s five maj...
27/02/2026

📅 Plan ahead for March: Korean public holidays 📅

Independence Movement Day (Samiljeol) is one of South Korea’s five major national holidays. It represents the core values on which the Republic of Korea was founded — particularly the people’s determination to achieve independence, uphold democracy, and protect their right to self-governance.

Independence Movement Day commemorates the nationwide protests of 1 March 1919 against Japanese colonial rule. It is a significant national day reflecting Korea’s modern history, sovereignty, and democratic values.

To our Australian stakeholders, offices are generally closed, and the day carries strong historical and emotional significance. We recommend simply noting the holiday in calendars. The 2 March has been designated as the substitute public holiday in 2026 as 1 March sits on a weekend.

🔹 1 March – Independence Movement Day (삼일절)
🔹 2 March – Substitute holiday for 1 March

⁠📩 Want to learn more about Korean Business Culture? Register early to our next online Mastering the Korean Business Landscape training session on Wednesday, 6 May 👇 https://akbc.glueup.com/event/things-you-need-to-know-before-you-take-or-receive-a-korean-delegation-170139/

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the AKBC Seollal Celebration in Perth! 🇦🇺🇰🇷On Tuesday, 24 February, the Australia...
25/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the AKBC Seollal Celebration in Perth! 🇦🇺🇰🇷

On Tuesday, 24 February, the Australia–Korea Business Council (AKBC) with the support of AKBC Member, Gilbert + Tobin, hosted a vibrant Seollal celebration with our members and partners. The event brought together the Australia-Korea business community in Perth for an evening of cultural connection, meaningful conversations, and shared celebration.

We were pleased to have Fay Duda, Honorary Consul for the Republic of Korea in Western Australia, moderate a thoughtful conversation with Andrew Lee, WA Representative at LG Energy Solution Australia, and Dr Hea-Jin Park, Korean Studies Lecturer at Curtin University. They shared their journeys across Australia’s corporate and cultural sectors and reflected on the cultural significance of Seollal.

Guests also heard from the Perth USAsia Centre about their self-paced online training program, Australia and the Indo-Pacific, which features a dedicated module developed by the AKBC.

The evening celebrated Korea’s dynamic food and beverage culture, with guests welcomed by Seoul Tonic, a premium Korean pear tonic, on arrival and as a takeaway gift, and a curated tasting of soju (소주) and makgeolli (막걸리). The program was brought to life with an energetic traditional performance, creating a memorable experience for all.

Our sincere thanks to all AKBC Members and the Perth community for your valued support in delivering such a memorable event.

See more photos from the event here 👇
https://www.akbc.com.au/past-events/akbc-seollal-celebration-perth

📩 Keen to know more about the Korean culture? Join our next online Mastering the Korean Business Landscape training session on 6 May. Register early 👇 https://akbc.glueup.com/event/things-you-need-to-know-before-you-take-or-receive-a-korean-delegation-170139/⁠

📢 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 📢 The Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND) has signed investment and project pa...
24/02/2026

📢 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 📢

The Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND) has signed investment and project participation agreements for the development of a 100 MW BESS facility in the Tangkam region near Toowoomba, approximately 160 kilometres west of Brisbane.

This milestone aligns with Australia’s commitment to expanding energy storage capacity to support the rapid growth of renewable energy and the increasing need for grid stability. The project will operate for approximately 20 years and represents a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy transition.

AKBC will continue to highlight opportunities for collaboration across the Australia–Korea energy corridor and welcomes more initiatives that strengthen our shared transition to clean energy. 🇦🇺🇰🇷

Read more below 👇
https://www.kindkorea.or.kr/pages/128?id=10925&menuMode=READ&q=

📩 Follow us, or sign up for our monthly eNewsletter to stay up-to-date on news in the Australia-Korea corridor 👉 https://akbc.glueup.com/org/akbc/subscriptions/

🇰🇷 Support the Taeguk Ladies in Australia! ⚽The Republic of Korea Women’s National Football Team, also known by their ni...
23/02/2026

🇰🇷 Support the Taeguk Ladies in Australia! ⚽

The Republic of Korea Women’s National Football Team, also known by their nickname 'Taeguk Ladies', is in Australia for the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 this March! They will be playing matches in Gold Coast and in Sydney, including a special International Women’s Day match against the Matildas. This is a great opportunity for the Korean and wider community to come together and show support.

Match schedule:
Republic of Korea vs
🇮🇷 IR Iran Monday, 2 March | 7:00PM | Gold Coast Stadium (Cbus Super Stadium), Gold Coast
🇵🇭 Philippines Thursday, 5 March | 1:00PM | Gold Coast Stadium (Cbus Super Stadium), Gold Coast
🇦🇺 Australia (International Women’s Day match) Sunday, 8 March | 8:00PM | Stadium Australia, Sydney

Tickets are affordable and family-friendly, starting from $10 for children and $20 for adults.

🎟️ Tickets and details: https://bit.ly/WACKoreaRep

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the How to Conduct Effective Meetings with Korean Stakeholders training session ...
23/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the How to Conduct Effective Meetings with Korean Stakeholders training session on Wednesday, 18 February. 🇦🇺🇰🇷

We were pleased to welcome both members and non‑members to this highly interactive session, which explored practical strategies for building cultural capability when engaging with stakeholders from the Korea.

Participants raised thoughtful questions throughout the session, including:
✅ Appropriate dress code when meeting Korean partners;
✅ How to extend dinner invitations after a meeting; and
✅ Approaches for navigating the common “yes” that may in fact mean “not sure” or “no”.

This level of engagement reflects the strong interest across our community in strengthening relationships and improving communication with Korean counterparts.

📩 If you are seeking to deepen your understanding and build confidence when working with Korean stakeholders, join us for our next training session on Tuesday, 6 May. 👉 https://akbc.glueup.com/event/things-you-need-to-know-before-you-take-or-receive-a-korean-delegation-170139/

📢 EVENT SOLD OUT 📢⁠⁠The Australia–Korea Business Council (AKBC) is pleased to announce that our AKBC Seollal Celebration...
20/02/2026

📢 EVENT SOLD OUT 📢⁠

The Australia–Korea Business Council (AKBC) is pleased to announce that our AKBC Seollal Celebration has sold out! Thank you to everyone who has registered and we are excited to announce our speaker line-up for our Seollal celebration in Perth.⁠

This will be an evening of conversation on culture, community, and connection between Australia and Korea. Our speakers will share their experiences and insights across education, business, and diplomacy, and reflect on what Seollal means for the Australia–Korea relationship today. There will also be some Korean-inspired experiences throughout the evening. ⁠

See our line-up below:⁠
🎤 Fay Duda, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Korea⁠, Western Australia
🎤 Paul Kelly, Head of WA Memberships and Business Development, Australia–Korea Business Council (AKBC)⁠
🎤 Andrew Lee, WA Representative, LG Energy Solution Australia ⁠
🎤 Melinda Mounsey, Education and Engagement Manager, Perth USAsia Centre⁠
🎤 Dr Hea-Jin Park, Korean Studies Lecturer, School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry,⁠ Curtin University⁠
🎤 Clare Pope, Director, Australia–Korea Business Council (AKBC) and Partner, AKBC Member Gilbert + Tobin⁠

See full speaker bios on our event page 👉 https://akbc.glueup.com/event/akbc-seollal-celebration-in-perth-164490/

Event Details:
📅 Date: Tuesday, 24 February 2026, 4.45PM - 7.00PM AWST
📍 Location: Gilbert + Tobin, Ground Floor Conference Facilities, Brookfield Place Tower 2, 123 St Georges Terrace, Perth

This Multicultural Grassroots Initiative grant activity received grant funding from the Australian Government.

🤝 Master your Korean Business Landscape – Fascinating Facts About Kimchi Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine and an ess...
20/02/2026

🤝 Master your Korean Business Landscape – Fascinating Facts About Kimchi

Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine and an essential part of Korean cultural identity. You may have heard of kimchi, but here are some interesting insights that reveal its cultural depth and significance.

Kimchi is more than a dish. It reflects community, seasonality and Korea’s long heritage of fermentation. Koreans eat kimchi with every meal, and almost every Korean dish is accompanied by it. It was also ranked the number one healthiest food in the world due to its probiotics and nutrient density.

Here are some fascinating facts:
✅ Countless varieties: There are more than 180 types of kimchi, each with unique flavours, ingredients and fermentation methods. The most common version uses napa cabbage seasoned with chilli, garlic, ginger and spices.
✅ UNESCO heritage: Kimjang, the tradition of making kimchi for winter, was listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015.
✅ Regional flavours: Different regions adapt kimchi to local produce, climate and preferred fermentation style, resulting in distinct tastes across the country.
✅ Chilli revolution: Early kimchi contained no chilli. Red pepper arrived in Korea in the 17th century and transformed kimchi into the spicy version known today.
✅ Space mission: Korean astronauts brought specially developed kimchi into space in 2008. It was engineered to handle cosmic radiation and controlled fermentation.
✅ Kimchi refrigerators: Many Korean households have dedicated kimchi fridges that maintain ideal fermentation conditions. It is common to have two refrigerators, with one used only for kimchi.

Understanding these cultural nuances not only enriches your knowledge but also helps spark engaging conversations and build stronger relationships.

💬 What’s your favourite dish made with Kimchi? Tell us in comments below 👇.⁠

📩 Want to know more? Our next online Mastering the Korean Business Landscape training session is on 6 May. Register early 👇 https://akbc.glueup.com/event/things-you-need-to-know-before-you-take-or-receive-a-korean-delegation-170139/

🎊 Happy Lunar New Year from all of us at the Australia–Korea Business Council 🌕Lunar New Year (Seollal in Korean) marks ...
17/02/2026

🎊 Happy Lunar New Year from all of us at the Australia–Korea Business Council 🌕

Lunar New Year (Seollal in Korean) marks the first day of the lunar calendar, which follows the cycles of the moon - around 28 days per month - making the celebration fall on a different date each year compared to the solar (Gregorian) calendar. Across many Asian cultures, including Korea, it is one of the most important traditional holidays, celebrated with family gatherings, ancestral customs, and wishes for good fortune.

As we welcome 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse, we recognise a symbol of energy, independence, and forward momentum. Combined with the fire element’s passion, dynamism, and transformation, the Fire Horse embodies bold ambition - a fitting spirit as we continue strengthening ties between Australia and Korea. 🔥

Thank you to our members, partners, and community for your continued support. Wishing everyone a year of growth, collaboration, and shared success.

📩 Interested in learning more? We have a few spots left for our online Mastering the Korean Business Landscape training session tomorrow! Join our short training session to learn all about the differences between the Australian and the Korean business culture in more detail 👇 https://akbc.glueup.com/event/how-to-conduct-effective-meetings-with-korean-stakeholders-167878/

#2026

🤝 AKBC in Action 🤝 On Thursday 12 February, our CEO, Liz Griffin and Head of Industry Groups, Jenny Kang, met with Patri...
16/02/2026

🤝 AKBC in Action 🤝

On Thursday 12 February, our CEO, Liz Griffin and Head of Industry Groups, Jenny Kang, met with Patrick Kim, Managing Director, and David Park, Head of BD, at the GS E&C Australia office.

The discussion covered GS E&C’s infrastructure and renewable energy pipeline, including a major power grid project the company is preparing to bid on in consortium with Australian partners. With Australia requiring significant transmission network expansion to connect rapidly increasing renewable energy supply to key demand centres, Patrick outlined its intention to actively pursue opportunities in the development of power grid infrastructure. We also explored opportunities for collaboration in upcoming AKBC events, including the 47th AKBC–KABC Joint Meeting in Adelaide.

As a valued AKBC member, GS E&C continues to play an important role in strengthening Australia–Korea business collaboration. We look forward to working closely with GS E&C in 2026 and beyond.

📩 Interested in joining the AKBC?
Book a meeting with Paul Kelly, our Head of WA Memberships and Business Development, to discuss how AKBC membership can benefit your organisation. https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/f875b72cc2b5439fbe610f7d04ee2874%40akbc.com.au/meetingtype/DPZG3IdjN0eOw_0v14BHAw2?bookingcode=c219de1c-e326-4d2d-b1ee-47180cfaa40d&anonymous&ismsaljsauthenabled=true

📢 DID YOU KNOW? 📢🇦🇺 In Australia, people often speak directly and expect open discussion before decisions are made.🇰🇷 In...
12/02/2026

📢 DID YOU KNOW? 📢

🇦🇺 In Australia, people often speak directly and expect open discussion before decisions are made.

🇰🇷 In Korea, decisions usually follow internal alignment and respect for hierarchy and context.

Same purpose — different ways of working.

The diagram highlights everyday differences between the two cultures, including:

✅ How decisions are made
✅ How feedback is given
✅ How meetings are run
✅ What professionalism looks like
✅ Expectations around work and communication

None of these approaches are right or wrong — they’re simply different. Understanding them makes teamwork smoother and helps avoid misunderstandings between Australian and Korean colleagues.

📩 Interested in learning more? Join our next online Mastering the Korean Business Landscape training session on Wednesday, 18 February and learn all about the differences between the Australian and the Korean business culture in more detail 👇
https://akbc.glueup.com/event/how-to-conduct-effective-meetings-with-korean-stakeholders-167878/

📢 AKBC MEMBER QUARTERLY BRIEFING ANNOUNCEMENT 📢⁠⁠Join 100+ attendees at the AKBC Member Quarterly Update to hear from in...
12/02/2026

📢 AKBC MEMBER QUARTERLY BRIEFING ANNOUNCEMENT 📢⁠

Join 100+ attendees at the AKBC Member Quarterly Update to hear from industry leaders and gain insights into the policy changes, major projects, and emerging opportunities shaping Australia-Korea trade and investment.

Participants will receive structured briefings on political and regulatory developments, important member announcements, and practical guidance to support market entry, partnership development, and strategic business planning. The session will conclude with a short training to help you navigate the Korean business landscape.⁠

See our lineup below:⁠
🎤 Belinda Altadonna, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Events, Australia-Korea Business Council
🎤 Deanna D’Alessandro, Director, The University of Sydney – Net Zero Initiative⁠
🎤 Liz Griffin, Chief Executive Officer, Australia-Korea Business Council
🎤 Jenny Kang, Head of Industry Groups, Australia-Korea Business Council
🎤 Sandra Margon, Chief Operating Officer, The University of Sydney – Net Zero Initiative⁠
🎤 Yoshiko Tanaka, Lead, Greater China, North Asia and Global Victoria Women, Global Victoria⁠
🎤 Scott Watkins, Chair, Australia-Korea Foundation⁠; Member of the AKBC Industry Experts Panel
🎤 Ashley Wells, Managing Director, A.GR Advisors Pty Ltd⁠
🎤 Alexander Yelland, Principal, Policy and Advocacy, Santos⁠

Register today 👉 https://akbc.glueup.com/event/akbc-member-quarterly-update-166827/ -more

Event Details:
📅 Date: Friday, 13 February 2026, 1.00 PM AEDT
📍 Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)

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