By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Lee Dong-hwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, visited the concert venue of global K-pop star Blackpink and reaffirmed the willingness of South Korea and the UK to cooperate in responding to the climate crisis.

According to the city on July 7, Mayor Lee visited the site of Blackpink's World Tour “BORN PINK” finale concert held at Goyang Sports Complex on July 6 and visited the climate crisis response promotional booth operated by the British Embassy in Korea.

At the event, he met with Colin Crooks, British Ambassador to Korea, and exchanged opinions on climate policies and practical measures for a sustainable future between the two countries.

Mayor Lee said, “This concert was an eco-friendly concert that converted some of its power to renewable energy, naturally conveying the value of sustainability to citizens,” adding, “Goyang City is also accelerating its efforts to realize an eco-friendly city under the goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 36% by 2030.”

The two sides also discussed the possibility of cooperation in various fields, including education and urban development.

Mayor Lee said, “We are promoting the establishment of campuses in the Goyang Free Economic Zone through cooperation with leading British educational institutions such as the University of Birmingham and King's College School,” and emphasized, “We will continue to pursue ongoing exchange and cooperation.”

Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Korea introduced the UK's representative climate policies through this booth, including the goal of achieving net zero by 2050, the plan to reduce greenhouse gases by 81% by 2035, and the “Clean Power 2030” policy to convert 95% of electricity to clean energy sources by 2030.

The city has been recognized as a model for low-carbon ecological cities through initiatives such as the Ramsar Wetland registration of Janghang Wetland, the creation of a 425km bicycle path, the development of the “Goyang Forest” in Mongolia, and the operation of a climate and environmental school. It also won the Special Award at last year's “ESG Korea Awards.”