Events
HSF Korea On Tour
On 25 November 2020 Peace Forest and Korea Forest Service organized the Symposium on Promoting People's Participation for Peace Forest. The symposium focused on Peace Forest Initiative, which is an initiative of South Korea launched in 2019 during the 14th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD in New Delhi, India with the ultimate goal to create a Peace Forest in the DMZ and broader Korean border area.
The invited speakers - Prof Jae-Hyun Kim, Dr Eun-Jin Park, and Prof Mi-Sun Park did presentation about the direction of the Peace Forest plan and governance.
Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi, Senior researcher of HSF Korea, attended the symposium as a discussant. She suggested the continuing collaboration in the field of forestry and knowledge sharing to promote the creation of the Peace Forest.
2020 Chuncheon-Wonsan Forum was held on 13 November organized by Inter-Korean Gangwon-do Cooperation Association (IKGCA), Chuncheon-si, and Gangwon-do.
The forum was launched by Chuncheon city in 2019 based on the Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018. This year’s main agenda was a Peace Tour for future city cooperation between Chuncheon and Wonsan. Mr Lee In-Young (Minister of Unification), Mr Heo Young (Member of National Assembly), Mayor of Chuncheon-si, Goseong-gun, and Sokcho-si, Mr Lee Hyeon-Soo (Chairperson of IKGCA), and invited experts attended the forum. Mr Lee In-Young delivered the keynote speech related to the current situation on the Korean Peninsula. After Mr Lee’s speech, the invited presenters – Mr Lee Gi-Bum, Mr Jin Chunkyu, Mr Park Han-Sung did presentations about the future opportunities of Wonsan Tour.
Dr. Choi attended the forum as a discussant. She suggested ecotours along the East Coast as well as eco study tours.
Since 2014, the Advisory Council on Korean-German Unification meets regularly to discuss issues related to Germany's unification and its implications for the Korean Peninsula. On 6 November, the council took part in Seoul. Dr. Bernhard Seliger, resident representative of HSF Korea, gave a presentation about changes in residents' consciousness in East-West Germany. Other speakers included Korean members of the advisory council, as well as representatives of the other German political foundations that are based in South Korea.
The discussions focused also on the possible impact of the US presidential elections and how its results may affect inter-Korean relations.
The 3rd inter-Korean Cultural Heritage Policy Forum was held on 5 November 2020 organized by Gangwon-do, Gyeonggi-do, and Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA). The forum, launched in 2019, is an advisory body for policy establishment against the background of the expansion of inter-Korean cultural property exchange and cooperation. At this year’s forum, the main topic was the understanding of the North Korean National Heritage and cooperation plan for inter-Korean cultural heritage.
Dr. Choi attended the forum as an invited speaker. She introduced HSF’s work related to natural monuments – especially birds in North Korea. She reflected on the various options for future exchanges and cooperation related to inter-Korean cultural heritage.
The SDGs Academic Forum 2020 was held on October 31, 2020, organized by Hope to the Future Association which has acquired the status of an associated NGO with the United Nations Department of Global Communications. The forum was held to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the UN and aimed at promoting the UN's sustainable development goals. The agenda was a ‘Planet’ among the five goals of People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace, and Partnership. The SDG Book Club Korea members participated in an online forum to share their thoughts about the impact of climate change and to discuss global challenges beyond borders.
Five student panels gave presentations related to SDGs 6, 7, 13, 14, 15. One of the student panels suggested 3P (Prevent, Plastic, Pacific) campaign to reduce the use of plastic.
Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi attended this forum as a moderator.
You can also visit SDG BOOK Club Korea website.