VANK has partnered with Gyeonggi Province to nurture youth and young adult global climate ambassadors and strengthen global collaboration to address the climate crisis.
On August 6, 2024, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon and VANK signed an agreement at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office. Governor Kim praised VANK for accomplishing what governments often cannot, adding, “Gyeonggi has declared the Gyeonggi RE100 initiative, appointed climate ambassadors, and actively engages in international efforts to combat the climate crisis. Together with VANK, we aim to lead the way.”
Under the agreement, VANK will recruit global climate ambassadors to create climate policy content and promote Gyeonggi’s climate initiatives internationally via social media. Meanwhile, Gyeonggi will support climate education and content development for policy advocacy.
VANK, known for training digital diplomats and global Korean cultural ambassadors, launched a project this year to cultivate 100,000 global climate ambassadors using social media to raise awareness of climate action.
Both parties agreed to collaborate on:
– developing content about the climate crisis and its solutions
– expanding climate education and action among the youth
– internationally promoting climate policies via social media
VANK Director Park Ki-tae expressed gratitude, saying, “This partnership with Gyeonggi aligns perfectly with our mission to inspire 200 million Hallyu fans worldwide. Through this initiative, we’ll showcase climate leadership as part of our cultural diplomacy.”
In a preceding discussion, VANK researchers highlighted their ambition to train Korean youth as global climate leaders, much like they’ve prepared digital diplomats to share Korea’s culture. They emphasized that young people, with proper support, are eager to act.
Governor Kim underscored Gyeonggi’s ongoing eco-friendly measures, such as banning single-use items at government facilities and mandating reusable containers for food deliveries. He encouraged nationwide participation in tackling the climate crisis and pledged full support for VANK’s efforts.