At the 16th Siheung Lifelong Learning Festival, a special program titled ”To Me, Siheung is the Earth“ focused on climate crisis and carbon neutrality. The event aimed to raise awareness about global warming and inspire environmentally-conscious action among citizens. On October 25, 2024, the opening ceremony featured a keynote speech by Park Ki-tae, the head of VANK, who spoke under the theme ”We are the Global Climate Ambassadors Saving Humanity.“
Referencing the drama Mr. Sunshine, Park highlighted the strong resolve of anonymous independence fighters who sacrificed their lives to defend Korea from Japanese occupation. He connected their legacy to the modern-day, urging Siheung citizens to act as climate ambassadors—protecting humanity from climate threats as the independence fighters once protected Korea.
Following Park‘s speech, three VANK youth researchers gave presentations:
Koo Seung-hyeon shared her involvement in projects promoting Korean history worldwide. She recounted discovering that the island of Ulleungdo was misidentified as Japanese territory on a major international mountain climbing site. Her efforts, along with public protests, led to a partial correction of the error. Koo highlighted that this same commitment to defending Korean territory extends to addressing climate issues, urging Siheung to take a leading role.
Seong Hye-seung discussed her work defending Korea’s rights over Dokdo and correcting historical inaccuracies as part of VANK’s outreach. She noted that climate change, including rising sea levels, is not confined to the polar regions. Seong emphasized the importance of taking action for the planet’s future, especially on ”Dokdo Day,“ calling on everyone to become climate advocates.
Kim Ji-hye expressed her pride in rejoining her hometown community. She recalled participating in a VANK event as a middle schooler, traveling alone from Jeju to Seoul, demonstrating her dedication. Now, she works with VANK using AI technology to resolve inaccuracies related to Korean history and Dokdo. She expressed hopes for continued cooperation between VANK and Siheung to drive meaningful environmental efforts.