In this edition of the EcoCiv Newsletter, we highlight EcoCiv Korea’s work in South Korea to represent the core values of an ecological civilization in academic education and prompt multi-sectoral transitions toward a circular economy.

The Institute of Ecological Civilization and Hanshin University (Seoul, South Korea) have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch an EcoCiv Korea Office at Hanshin University and establish a formal cooperative relationship. The signing ceremony was held in hybrid style both at Hanshin University and online on April 22, 2022, Earth Day, which made the ceremony more meaningful. 

Dr. Sung-Young Kang, the president of Hanshin University, emphasized the importance of cooperation, signifying an urgent call for the global civil society, especially in a time of a pandemic, increased polarization, and the climate crisis. He states that by opening the EcoCiv Korea office, Hanshin University will advance as a leading university that fosters global leaders for life, peace, and justice. Dr. Philip Clayton, EcoCiv's President, celebrated this international cooperation by saying that establishing a global human tradition that is ecocentric and biocentric will only be possible if we draw deeply from the cultural resources of the East. He mentioned the significance of this MOU by remarking: “In short, the ceremony today is about far more than signing an MOU, as important as that is. With this partnership, we are also demonstrating to the world what is necessary for humanity to succeed.” Dr. John B. Cobb Jr. also gave a moving congratulatory address. 

The two organizations will work together to conduct academic research, design conferences and seminars, and develop and update curriculums that aim to seek long-term solutions for the wellbeing of humanity and the Earth that reflect the core values of an ecological civilization.

EcoCiv Korea launched a branch office at the Seoul campus of Hanshin University. The office is located on the second floor of Baekseokgwan, a building that houses professors' labs and various research institutes. Through the office window, one can see the picturesque Insubong and Mangyeongdae, two famous peaks of Dobong mountain (altitude: 740m). The location of EcoCiv Korea goes beyond providing a beautiful, quiet, and comfortable place for interdisciplinary research to more clearly define and explain the core concepts of an ecological civilization. It means that EcoCiv Korea can fully utilize the abundant academic resources and network of partners of Hanshin University. 

Hanshin, which started as the first seminary of Korea in 1939, has now become one of the most progressive universities in South Korea. Apart from the main Osan campus for the undergraduate students, the Seoul campus has the Graduate School of Theology and the Management School for Social Innovation. The Management School runs the curriculum covering cooperatives, social economy, and local circular economy; meanwhile it closely cooperates with the civic organizations in four northeast districts of Seoul (Gangbuk, Seongbuk, Dobong, Nowon-districts) near the campus. These four districts, among twenty-five districts of Seoul, are eager to regenerate their old residential areas and nurture small businesses in innovative ways. The location of EcoCiv Korea enables research and cooperation with these graduate schools on how ecological transformation is possible in the local communities and even in the megacity of Seoul.

EcoCiv started its "A New Decade to Make a Difference, 2021-2030" conference series last year. Emphasizing that during this decade, Korea and the world should make special efforts for ecological transformation. This conference series was divided into two parts. 

The October conference was held under the theme of "The Role of Universities and Religion for Ecological Transformation" to commemorate the MOU decision between Hanshin University and EcoCiv. It was especially meaningful because Sung-Young Kang, President of Hanshin University, and Pastor Soo-Il Chae of Kyungdong Church, former President of Hanshin University, participated in the conference. Their presence indicated that EcoCiv Korea would have opportunities to collaborate in research, education, and practice for ecological transformation, both with academic and religious institutions. 

The second November conference was co-organized with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education under the theme of "Ecological Transition: Nurturing Citizenship through Food Education." Superintendent Hee-Yeon Cho, who has been cooperating with EcoCiv Korea since 2019, promoted a new school lunch program that provides healthy local vegetarian meals and reduces food waste to help students adopt an environmentally friendly lifestyle and reduce their carbon footprint. The "A New Decade to Make a Difference" conference series, the signature project of EcoCiv Korea, will continue this year.

EcoCiv Korea started as the Korea project of EcoCiv and the Center for Process Studies in 2016 and has been working with various organizations such as the City of Seoul, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and the Green Foundation for five years. Through the program's activities, four main areas of focus were selected: philosophical discourse on ecological civilization, theory on local circular economies, ecological transition education, and solidarity with local communities.

EcoCiv developed a monthly colloquium covering these areas. The colloquium presenters are researchers of EcoCiv Korea whose research fields are quite diverse, covering philosophy, theology, economics, social sciences, humanities, and education. At the first colloquium, commemorating the opening of the EcoCiv Korea office, Dr. Wang-Sik Jang, who is an alumnus of Claremont Graduate University, presented a paper linking the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and ecological civilization. Then in May, Dr. Seung-Moo Lee continued the colloquium with the theme of the circular economy.

With the colloquium, we will launch a research project focused on the theoretical analysis of the regional circular economy policies and related civil movement of Gangbuk districts near Hanshin University, where residents have started to run a brewery cooperative, a coffee shop, and a zero-waste shop that serve as living examples of a local economy.

The next step will be to set up an educational program on ecological civilization for the ministers, civil activists, citizens, and graduate students in Korea.