Ecology

I became a target of a formal complaint for participating in President Moon Jae-in’s Four Major Rivers Investigation and Evaluation Planning Committee’s decision to restore the Geum and Yeongsan rivers.** When I heard that the prosecutors dismissed our case for lack of evidence, I searched my case number on the Criminal Justice Portal. When I saw the result come up I let out a chortle. Due to this complaint, the rigorous deliberations by subject matter experts and environmental activists were reduced to a matter of ‘obstruction of commercial business’ under the official records. But also I found myself feeling a sense of relief and freedom. Until the dismissal, I had carried an irrational yet real possibility that at any given moment I could be ‘searched and seized’ by the prosecutors whilst under such an accusation for almost three years. This complaint is only one small incident against a broader set of conflicts surrounding the Four Major Rivers Project. Over fifteen years ago, the Four Major Rivers Project was Lee Myung-bak’s administration’s (2008-13) flagship nation building project, even mobilising the National Intelligence Service to crack down criticisms expressed by civil society groups and media. Why was Lee so determined to develop rivers to that extent? To restore our rivers, we have to dig deeper into the drivers behind Lee’s agenda.

From the Ryukyu Kingdom to Brazil, this story traces Okinawa’s journey of survival, migration, and identity. Through colonialism, war, and diaspora, Okinawan communities preserved their culture and resilience across generations.

What happens when rivers built for development begin to collapse? This story follows Korea’s journey from mega-dams and the Four Major Rivers Project to a new vision of river restoration.

For thousands of years, rice has been more than food. It has been culture, memory, and survival. In South Korea, a few farmers are bringing back native rice varieties lost to history. Their rainbow-colored fields tell a story of a future rooted in the past.

Let’s peel away the assumption we have long taken for granted—that “digital = eco-friendly.” We will trace the three layers that sustain the digital society: action (interfaces), infrastructure (data centers, energy generation, cooling water), and networks (terrestrial and submarine cables). Beneath these, we will examine the materiality of devices, the corporate power embedded in design, the profit structures of the data economy, and the points where institutions begin to collapse. Finally, we will reflect on the small but resilient practices and institutional shifts we can choose to pursue.

The Climate Youth Council held a meeting with members of the National Assembly to petition for the revision of the Carbon Neutrality Act, which was the first petition case since the enactment of the law in 2021. Students experienced democracy while recognizing the stakes of the climate crisis, and continued the campaign with the social cooperative Party. Future tasks suggested include expanding openness, improving participatory design, assigning responsible authority, and reorganizing the evaluation system.  

The "Climate Citizens' Assembly (CCA)", which served as the foundation for this project, critiqued the failures of democracy and climate policies, proposing a platform for citizens to actively participate in addressing the climate crisis. Kyung Hee University's "Climate Youth Council" allowed students to engage in legislative processes within the National Assembly, influencing climate policy. Through flipped learning and question-based learning, the assembly enhanced the students' climate crisis literacy.

Today, we are all experiencing the severity and impact of the climate crisis in real time through the constant global climate disaster news flooding in. 'Climate Youth Council 2024', led by Kyung Hee University students, an innovative experiment in democracy to tackle the climate crisis. In this course, students have learned about climate issues, engage in debates, and develop direct action plans to drive social change. 

With the popularity of Korean Wave all over the world, K-Agrifoodtech is also leaping forward on the world stage. The Korean author shared about his recent visit to the AFRO 2023 in Seoul.