THE ECO and Net-Zero, environmental clubs affiliated with the Climate Change Response Project Team (Director Kang Yoon Hee) at Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul), held the “Kookmin University–Ulsan University Climate and Environment Student Exchange Day” program in the Ulsan Metropolitan City area over two days, from May 29 to 30, 2026, together with students from Ulsan University.

This event was organized to enhance university students’ understanding of climate and environmental issues and to expand practical exchanges for a sustainable future. Twenty-two students from Kookmin University, led by Research Professor Jeong Ha yoon, participated in the event and explored Ulsan—a city where industry and the environment coexist—alongside Research Professor Lee Jun-hyung and students from Ulsan University.

The participating students visited the Hyundai Motor Ulsan Plant to observe the automobile production process and the transition to eco-friendly future mobility. They also viewed the National Industrial Complex and the Shipbuilding and Petrochemical Industrial Complex from the Ulsan University Bridge observation deck. Subsequently, they visited Daewangam Park and the Taehwa River National Garden to experience coastal ecosystems and examples of ecological restoration within the city, discovering another side of Ulsan as an industrial city.

△ Photo from a tour of the Hyundai Motor Ulsan Plant

In addition, a special lecture was given at Ulsan University by Kim Jeong-hoon, Director of the Ulsan Eco-Industrial Development Center. The lecture introduced the case of establishing an “Ulsan-style eco-industrial complex,” which recycles waste and wastewater generated during industrial activities as resources for other companies. Following the lecture, students from both universities shared their insights from the site visit and the lecture through group presentations and jointly explored directions for a sustainable industrial transition.

△ Special Lecture by Kim Jeong-hoon, Director of the Ulsan Eco-Industry Development Center

The final stop on the itinerary was a visit to the Taehwa River National Garden. As they walked through the Sipri Reed Forest, the students experienced firsthand a successful example of ecological restoration in an urban setting. Witnessing how a city that once symbolized industrialization has transformed into a space where nature and humanity coexist served as a reminder that a sustainable future is possible through the harmonious development of the environment and industry.

Ji minSol (Class of 2023, Department of Russian and Eurasian Studies), president of the Net Zero Club, said, “By touring Ulsan’s industrial sites and ecological spaces firsthand, I could truly feel that industrial development and environmental conservation can coexist.” She added, “It was meaningful to interact with Ulsan University students and share diverse perspectives on responding to the climate crisis.”

This exchange program was significant as it served as a learning opportunity for university students living in the era of the climate crisis to understand the relationship between industry and the environment firsthand and to jointly explore practical measures for a sustainable society.

Meanwhile, as the lead institution of the HUSS Environmental Consortium, Kookmin University is working alongside Duksung Women’s University, Ulsan University, Inha University, and Chosun University to promote interdisciplinary education that transcends the boundaries between universities and academic majors under the theme of “Coexistence and Mutual Prosperity in the Era of the Climate Crisis,” striving to cultivate future-oriented talent in the humanities and social sciences.