Our university's Climate Change Specialized Graduate School Project Team (Project Leader: Sohn Jin Sik, Vice President for Planning) successfully hosted an international symposium titled ‘The Intensification of Natural Disasters Amidst Climate Change’ at the Four Points by Sheraton Seoul Station on Thursday, August 21, 2025. Over 40 researchers from Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and other regions attended this event, sharing the latest research findings for responding to the climate crisis and discussing the necessity of international cooperation.

The symposium focused on academic discussions regarding recent frequent extreme climate phenomena such as heatwaves, torrential rains, and floods. Professor Im Eun soon (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) analyzed how anthropogenic climate change intensifies heatwaves through climate modeling, pointing out that the synergistic effects of global warming and urban growth significantly amplify heat stress. Professor Hiraga Yusuke (Tohoku University, Japan) analyzed hydrometeorological extremes using storylines and risk-based approaches, projecting that while typhoon maximum wind speeds will increase and overall occurrence frequency will decrease, the proportion of strong typhoons will rise. Researcher Tahara Ryotaro from the same university analyzed torrential rains caused by mesoscale convective systems, finding precipitation increase rates significantly exceed previous predictions. He explained that the primary factor is the prolonged persistence of strong upward motion.

Presentations by domestic researchers followed. Professor Shin Ju Young (Kookmin University) highlighted limitations in relying solely on air temperature for heat stress assessment during heatwaves, advocating for appropriate temperature indicators reflecting Koreans' climatic characteristics. Professor Noh Sung Jin (Kumoh National Institute of Technology) emphasized that AI utilization in urban flood response to climate change is essential, not optional, stating that an approach combining physics-based models, AI, and data fusion is the core direction for effective countermeasures.

This symposium, serving as a platform for academic exchange, holds significant meaning as it went beyond mere presentation of research outcomes. It facilitated the sharing of experiences and research capabilities among nations, laying the groundwork for international collaborative research to address disasters caused by climate change. Particularly, a consensus emerged on the necessity for cross-border cooperation in the face of increasing uncertainty and complexity surrounding disasters.

The Graduate School of Climate Change stated, “This symposium strengthened our international research network and established a foundation for Korea to demonstrate academic leadership in responding to the climate crisis.” It further announced plans to continue leading research in climate change and natural disasters through sustained international cooperation and academic exchange.

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This symposium is evaluated as an event that confirmed the necessity of international joint research for responding to climate change and natural disasters, demonstrating Kookmin University's position as a hub for global academic exchange.