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Busan to Host “Open Citizens’ Environmental Academy” on the Theme of Economy and Climate Change

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Mayor Park Heong-joon of Busan Metropolitan City announced that the city will host the “Open Citizens’ Environmental Academy” at 3:00 PM on June 5 in the International Conference Hall of City Hall, under the theme “Economy and Climate Change.”

Since its launch in 2022, the Open Citizens’ Environmental Academy has served to raise awareness of the climate crisis and the importance of reducing carbon emissions, while encouraging individual roles in environmental protection.

In last year’s event (2024), broadcaster and author Tyler Rasch and Director Jin Jae-woon, Chair of the Only One Earth Environmental Film Festival, delivered messages on the climate crisis.

This year’s event coincides with Environment Day (June 5) and Environmental Education Week, and will bring together about 250 citizens and environmental education stakeholders.

The event includes a special lecture, a film screening, and an environmental poster exhibition.

Professor Kwak Jae-sik, a best-selling author in environmental science and a popular media personality known for his fresh approaches to climate issues, will give a keynote lecture titled “Economy and Climate Change.”

The featured environmental film, Here Now Project, is a documentary composed of user-submitted smartphone footage from people experiencing disaster events firsthand.

As the opening film of the 3rd “Only One Earth Environmental Film Festival” (2024), it captures the urgency of climate disasters such as massive wildfires and floods happening around the globe—truly embodying the phrase, "Here and now."

In addition, the Environmental Poster Exhibition will showcase 12 winning entries from the poster contest held as part of the 2024 3rd “Only One Earth” Film Festival, featuring works from elementary, middle, and high school students. A total of 138 pieces were submitted.

Participation is available on a first-come, first-served basis via the City Hall website (www.busan.go.kr/minwon/occation) or by scanning the QR code provided in the event materials.

Lee Byung-seok, Director of the Environment and Water Policy Office of Busan, stated,

“As the host of the 5th session of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) for the Global Plastics Treaty last year, Busan is at the forefront of global environmental issues.
We hope this event on Environment Day will become a meaningful time to share awareness and take action for climate change and a sustainable future.”

Meanwhile, during Environmental Education Week (June 2–8), various environmental education events will take place across the city, and on June 5, the 1st-floor lobby of City Hall will host a public experience booth zone with citizen participation.

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Attachment 1: Event Overview

• ●Event Name: 2025 Open Citizens’ Environmental Academy

• ●Date & Time: June 5, 2025 (Thu), 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

• ●Location: 12th Floor, International Conference Hall, Busan City Hall

• ●Key Programs:

• ○Keynote Speaker: Professor Kwak Jae-sik (Soongsil University, Author, Broadcaster)

• ■TV Programs: tvN’s You Quiz on the Block, tvN’s Da Vinci Note, SBS’s Kim Young-chul’s Science Convenience Store

• ■Radio/Books: KBS Science Plus, The Earth is Fine, It's Us Who Are the Problem, Kwak’s Bacteria Expo

• ■Education: Ph.D. in Engineering, Yonsei University; B.S. and M.S. in Quantum Engineering and Chemistry, KAIST

• ○Lecture Theme: Exploring economic impacts of climate change

• ○Film Screening (~30 minutes): Here Now Project

• ○Poster Exhibition: 12 winning entries from the 2024 Environmental Poster Contest

Attachments 2 & 3:

• ●Promotional Poster

• ●Social Media Card News