Hwaseong Special City, 'Finding Korea's Path to Innovation Through Technology and Inclusion'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] The '2025 Korea Sustainable Development Conference' was held successfully for three days from the 5th to the 7th throughout Hwaseong Special City under the theme 'Finding Korea's Path Through Innovation in Technology and Inclusion.'

The conference, under the slogan 'A Sustainable Korea Where Citizens Participate and the Nation Experiences Results,' was evaluated as presenting a new milestone for 'K-Sustainability,' drawing participation from approximately 3,000 experts from the private, public, industrial, academic, and research sectors.

The conference was led to success by organizer Mayor Jung Myeong-geun of Hwaseong City, Park Jae-young as Standing Chair of the National Sustainable Development Council, Lee Yong-geun as Standing Chair of the Hwaseong City Sustainable Development Council, along with Bae Jeong-soo, Speaker of the Hwaseong City Council and city councilors, heads of Hwaseong City public institutions, and members of national, Gyeonggi Province, and Hwaseong City Sustainable Development Councils.

Additionally, National Assembly Member Yeom Tae-young, Park Se-hwan, Chair of the Sustainable Development Local Government Council (Mayor of Gwangju), Park Yeon-hee, Director of the ICLEI Korea Office, Kwon Young-sang, Deputy Director of the Office for Coordination of the Government, and Jang Yi-jae, Environmental Policy Technology Officer of the Climate, Energy and Environment Division, and other major guests from the central government, National Assembly, and domestic and international institutions attended in large numbers.

At the opening ceremony held at Jeongjo Hyo Park on the first day of the conference, with over 1,000 participants in attendance, the 'Hwaseong-style ESG Governance Launch Ceremony' was held, symbolizing the conference's core value of 'collaboration.'

Hwaseong-style ESG Governance is a three-party cooperation system that addresses local issues by linking public sector support (Hwaseong Special City), corporate social responsibility (Hwaseong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, etc.), and civil society activities (Hwaseong ESG Civil Society Network, etc.). It received significant attention for presenting the nation's first sustainable partnership model that goes beyond one-time support.

Additionally, the '27th Korea Sustainable Development Competition' and the '7th Korea Solarig Awards Ceremony' took place.

The Sustainable Development Competition discovers excellent sustainable development practice cases from across the nation to encourage activists, while the Solarig awards municipalities and citizens with outstanding renewable energy dissemination achievements, carrying the meaning of promoting transition to a carbon-neutral society.

The highlight of the opening ceremony was marked by the 'Korea SDGs 2030 Hwaseong Declaration.' Youth, immigrants, slow learners, seniors, and environmental activists representing diverse citizens of Hwaseong City proclaimed shared will toward a sustainable future alongside major guests.

The declaration contains calls to directly confront ecological limits and climate crisis and accelerate transition to a carbon-neutral society. The declaration also pledges the pivotal role of local governments and sustainable development councils in public-private cooperation and civil society solidarity, and emphasizes the 'great journey of transformation' to establish systems where youth and citizens directly participate in implementation monitoring and carry forward intergenerational promises.

At the conference held at Hwaseong Citizen's University on the 6th, 23 thematic sessions and the 2025 Sustainable Development Fall Academic Conference were held simultaneously, creating a passionate policy discussion forum.

Each session was organized by the Korea Sustainable Development Association, Social Innovation Research Institute, and national and local Sustainable Development Councils, with core K-SDGs agendas such as △30 years of citizen-felt sustainable development △climate crisis response and energy transition △citizen-led community building △activation of sustainable development education (ESD) and △biodiversity conservation thoroughly discussed.

Particularly noted as the highlight of this conference, the special session 'Urban Solution Spark, From Hwaseong to the Whole Nation' brought together Hwaseong City civil servants, Hwaseong City Sustainable Development Council members, and sustainable development experts and activists from across the nation.

The session proceeded with themes addressing Hwaseong City's key challenges: △advancement of autonomous vehicle living labs (transportation) △RE100 future industrial complex (industry) △establishment of integrated care system (welfare) and △carbon reduction by citizens and enterprises (environment).

Participants listened to presentations and engaged in discussions, with Hwaseong City policy officials serving as 'table hosts' at each table to enhance proposal feasibility. The resulting solutions will be visualized as the 'Hwaseong Solution Map (draft)' and officially delivered to the city.

Participants then enjoyed deep exchange and fellowship during the special 'Night of Hwaseong' program at Seohae Maru Youth Hostel on the evening of the second day, and on the morning of the 7th, the third day, embarked on on-site explorations across five courses linked to 'Hwaseong City Tour—One Day of Responsible Travel.'

'One Day of Responsible Travel' is a responsible travel program for a sustainable future that respects local residents and preserves natural environment and cultural heritage, directly experiencing sustainable development sites in Hwaseong Special City such as Golden Coast Road, Dinosaur Egg Fossil Site, and Maehyangni Peace Memorial Hall, marking the finale of the conference.

Mayor Jung Myeong-geun stated, "This conference was a meaningful time to share the city's core values of 'technology and inclusion' with the nation and jointly seek Korea's path to sustainability in Hwaseong," and added, "I will actively reflect the valuable proposals discussed at the conference, particularly the results of 'Urban Solution Spark,' in city policies to lead the way in sustainable development where 'citizens participate and the nation experiences results.'"