Solutions for Green Living
The city of Copenhagen has invested the past 30 years into making itself more environmentally friendly, and now they are prepared to help Seoul do so as well. To mark this occasion, Lea Stubble Teglbjaerg, the first secretary of the Embassy of Denmark, opened the Copenhagen Solutions exhibition in the lobby of the Seoul City Hall yesterday. She was accompanied by Deputy Director of International Relations Cho Hye-jong and Deputy Director of Climate Change Yoon Jun-seong. Organized by the Embassy of Denmark and co-hosted by the city of Seoul, the exhibition looks at sustainable solutions that transformed the rundown industrial city of Copenhagen into the vibrant and green smart city it is today. It aims to promote the green profile of Denmark and Copenhagen and to inspire visitors to think about green solutions in their everyday city life.
Lea Teglbjaerg spoke during the ceremony, saying that the venue of the event, the Seoul City Hall, which is the heart of Seoul, was very symbolic to both the Korean and Danish peoples. Since the signing of an MOU between city of Copenhagen and Seoul in 2014, there have been more visits on the state level, and she predicted more tourist exchanges that would enhance cultural, political, and economic closeness between the two countries.
She also stated that Copenhagen and Seoul were compatible partners and could work in tandem, with Seoul being at the forefront of technology and Copenhagen as the most livable green city.
She emphasized that it was time to get rid of only pretending to be environmentally conscious. She stated that all of us need to make decision to make our city more environmentally conscious, and that most of us do want this but implementing it is difficult. Nevertheless, it can be made possible through political courage, perseverance, and support from people. She said, "While many think that saving the environment comes at the cost of economic growth and to an inconvenience to our daily life choices, this is not true."
The first secretary pointed to the city of Copenhagen as living proof that economic growth and green living can go together. As an example, she mentioned how Mayor Park of Seoul was interested in the bike infrastructure of Copenhagen during his visit in 2014, and even tested them out. Copenhagen has invested the last 30 years into making the city environmentally friendly. It is a city with more bikes than people, and with highways only for bikes. Schoolchildren, public officers, and even ministers use bikes in the most livable city.
She finished her remarks by saying that while Copenhagen can aspire to become a smart city, Seoul on the other hand can learn to be green city, and both cities can mutually inspire each other.
Copenhagen Solutions runs from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8 at the Seoul City Hall Lobby.
A giveaway event is also held only to visitors to the exhibition. To enter, just take a photo at the exhibition site, and post it publically on social media with the hashtag #COPENHAGENSOLUTIONS. Then share the photo link on the Embassy Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ambseoul. The giveaway lasts as long as the exhibition, Aug. 19 to Sept. 8. Winners will be selected and posted on the Embassy's Facebook page on Aug. 24, Sept. 4, and Sept. 11. Winners will receive LEGO sets (3 winners), LEGO mini figures (12 winners), and embassy canvas tote bags (15 winners).