Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul), participating as the lead institution in the HUSS Environmental Consortium (Kookmin University, Duksung Women's University, Ulsan University, Inha University, Chosun University, hereinafter referred to as the Environmental Consortium), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Graduate School of Public Policy at Hokkaido University, Japan, on Friday, July 25, and held the first joint academic seminar between the two institutions.

The signing ceremony was attended by Kang Yoon Hee, Director of the Climate Change Response Project Team at Kookmin University, along with Professors Lee Won Deok, Park Chang Gun, and Moon Ik Joon, as well as Nobu Iwatani, Dean of the Graduate School of Public Policy at Hokkaido University, and other relevant officials.

Through this MOU, the two institutions agreed to pursue various practical cooperation measures, including: △ Student and faculty exchange △ Joint program development in social sciences, climate change, and humanities △ Enhancing cooperation through mutual institutional visits △ Joint research focused on climate and environmental fields △ Joint lectures and academic activities △ Seeking opportunities for financial support related to research and education △ Identifying other potential areas for cooperation.

Director Kang Yoon hee stated, “We hope this agreement will serve as the starting point for sustained and substantive academic exchange between our two institutions, and we look forward to expanding opportunities for mutual development through personnel exchanges and joint research.”

The joint academic seminar held immediately after the MOU signing addressed the theme ‘Responding to the Climate Crisis and Japan's Energy Policy’. Moderated by Professor Lee Won Deok, the seminar featured presentations by Professor Park Chang Gun on “Changes in Japan's Basic Energy Plan in Response to the Global Climate Crisis: Pursuing Synergy Between Environmental Sustainability and Economic Viability” and Professor Ryuji Nikayama (Hokkaido University) on “Hokkaido Environmental Policy”. The subsequent discussion featured Professor Naomi Chi (Hokkaido University) and Professor Moon Ik Joon as panelists.

From July 26 (Sat) to 28 (Mon), participants from Kookmin University's Climate Change Response Project Team conducted field visits to key climate and environmental sites in northern Hokkaido. They visited the Okhotsk Drift Ice Observatory, Shiretoko National Park, Kushiro Marsh, and Yubari Eco-Friendly Farm, investigating Japan's current energy, climate, and environmental policies alongside locally-based implementation cases. Particularly, by directly experiencing SDG-based sustainable policy execution and community linkage models, they also explored potential applications for future environmental education and extracurricular program development.

Based on this exchange, the HUSS Environmental Consortium plans to deepen Korea-Japan academic cooperation for climate crisis response, accelerate the establishment of international networks, and lay the groundwork for sustainable joint research.

Meanwhile, Kookmin University, as the lead institution of the HUSS Environmental Consortium, is cultivating future-oriented humanities and social science talents equipped with problem-solving capabilities and convergent thinking. This is achieved through interdisciplinary convergence education that breaks down boundaries between universities and majors, under the theme ‘Coexistence and Mutual Prosperity in the Era of Climate Crisis,’ in collaboration with Duksung Women's University, Ulsan University, Inha University, and Chosun University.