2025 Knowledge Exchange Days (KED)
Event Successfully Concludes with Vibrant Participation

The 2025 Knowledge Exchange Days (KED) successfully took place from November 6 (Thu) to 7 (Fri), hosted by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) and organized by KDI GKEDC.

Marking its second year, KED 2025 was held under the theme “Integrated Solutions for Climate Action”, featuring a conference, site visit, and the Youth Empathy Stage (YES). The event brought together domestic and international participants to share knowledge and experiences, establishing itself as a global platform for networking and exploring practical solutions to global challenges.
 

• Conference 「Integrating Policy, Technology, and Finance to Scale Up Climate Action Impact」

  The main conference on Day 1 explored practical strategies and collaborative approaches to enhance the effectiveness of climate-action initiatives, engaging participants from multilateral development banks (MDBs), governments, and the private sector.
  
  During the opening ceremony, Hyung-Il Lee, First Vice Minister of Economy and Finance, described climate change as “both a crisis and a turning point for growth,” emphasizing the importance of sustained dialogue to strengthen the real-world impact of climate action. In his welcome remarks, Dongchul Cho, President of the Korea Development Institute (KDI), noted that government efforts alone are insufficient to address the climate crisis. He stressed the need to strengthen the foundations of cooperation through the sharing of knowledge and experience among MDBs, governments, and the private sector, expressing hope that this conference would help materialize a sustainable cooperation governance framework.
  
  In the congratulatory remarks that followed, Jacques Edjangue, Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), highlighted Africa’s ongoing efforts to tackle climate change and reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Korea. Scott Morris, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), underscored that the integration of technology and finance is a key driver for achieving climate goals, stressing the need for strengthened international cooperation.

[Keynote]
In the keynote speech that followed, Sang-Hyup Kim, Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), emphasized that “global cooperation must be significantly expanded to effectively respond to both the climate crisis and the AI revolution.” He added that Korea recognized early on the importance of knowledge resources and has progressed as far as it has because of this foundation, expressing his hope that Korea will place greater emphasis on the ideas and philosophies needed to lead a new era.
 

[Session 1. MDB Climate Action Projects: Lessons and Insights for Greater Impact]
In Session 1, experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB), and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) presented the current status and key experiences of their institutions’ climate-action initiatives. This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Professor Jie-ae Sohn of Ewha Womans University, featuring Hyungna Oh, Professor at Kyung Hee University, and Eric Ogunleye, Director at the African Development Bank (AfDB). The panel explored strategies to enhance the implementation of climate-change programs by drawing on the practical experiences of MDBs.

[Session 2. Government Initiatives for Carbon Reduction and Climate Action]
Session 2 highlighted government-led climate initiatives and policy mechanisms from Japan, Korea, and Thailand, presented by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Korea Forest Service, and the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization, respectively. The panel discussion that followed, moderated by Jason Allford, World Bank Country Manager for the Republic of Korea, focused on strengthening cross-sector collaboration for effective climate action, featuring specialists from the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and the World Bank.

[Session 3. Korean Private Sector Efforts for NDCs and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation]
Session 3 highlighted climate-technology innovations spearheaded by leading Korean companies, featuring presentations from Doosan Enerbility, POSCO, Hanwha Qcells, and Hyundai Motor Company. In the panel discussion that followed, chaired by Jong-won Yoon, Visiting Senior Fellow at KDI, representatives from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the ADB–Korea Climate Technology Hub (K-Hub) examined the opportunities and challenges involved in scaling up private-sector engagement in climate action.

[Session 4. Exploring Pathways to Maximize the Effectiveness of Climate Action Initiatives]
The final session featured a comprehensive discussion on strategic approaches to enhancing the impact of climate-action initiatives. The panel discussion was chaired by Dr. Dong Soo Kang, Executive Director of the KDI GKEDC, and brought together experts from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), who shared perspectives on expanding sustainable climate finance and strengthening complementary partnerships.

Concluding the conference, Dr. Kang emphasized that accelerating climate action requires not only finance and technology, but also trust, collaboration, and a shared vision. He expressed his hope for “turning ideas into action and commitment into outcomes.”
 

• Site Visit: Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation

  On the morning of the second day, participants visited the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation to observe Korea’s waste-management and carbon-reduction technologies. A total of 53 attendees—including the Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), students from the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, and other participants—toured key facilities.
  
  During the site visit, participants examined operational processes and technology applications across the waste-management system, showing strong interest in solutions that enable environmentally responsible waste treatment while generating energy and recoverable resources.

• Youth Empathy Stage(YES)

  A highlight of the second day, the Youth Empathy Stage (YES) was designed and led by young participants themselves, embodying a youth-driven model of engagement. The afternoon sessions featured a Career Talk and a Board Game program, both of which provided meaningful opportunities for career exploration and climate knowledge enhancement, garnering enthusiastic responses from attendees.
  
  [KED TALK: Career Dialogue with International Organizations]
  The KED TALK session connected aspiring youth interested in climate and sustainability careers with professionals currently working in international organizations. Moderated by Jie-Ae Sohn, Professor at Ewha Womans University, the panel featured Jacques Edjangue, Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB); Junkyu Lee, Director at the Asian Development Bank (ADB); James Shepherd, Acting Head of Unit at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI); and Zhuo Cheng, Senior Carbon Finance Specialist, Jinhee Park, IT Officer, and Taeho Kim, Consultant, all from the World Bank. Panelists shared diverse career experiences and insights, inspiring many participants interested in pursuing careers in global development.
  
  [KED PLAY: Path to Zero: the Global Climate Race]
  In the KED PLAY session, university and graduate students from various countries gathered to play “Path to Zero: The Global Climate Race”, a board game developed by GKEDers (GKEDC Student Supporters). Pre-registered participants formed teams and moved across a large physical game board, gaining a practical understanding of international carbon trading mechanisms and climate mitigation efforts. When landing on “Climate Action” tiles, players completed short physical challenges—such as turning a mini generator or recording steps with a pedometer—providing a fun, hands-on experience of carbon-reduction activities. Participants noted that they could “understand global climate policies as if they were real,” highlighting the session’s effective blend of learning and play.

[KED Cultural Night]
KED concluded with a lively Cultural Night, featuring performances by university clubs, including traditional Korean percussion, band, and dance busking performances that energized the audience. The program continued with a lecture by a K-pop vocal trainer and a “Sustainable Runway”, where students showcased eco-friendly fashion designs they had planned and created. The evening culminated in performances by popular artists — BBGIRLS, Yuju, GEMINI, and JJGB — amplifying the celebratory atmosphere. The concert, which welcomed both local residents and international participants, embodied KED’s vision of “From Exchange to Empathy”, closing the two-day event on a resonant note of shared connection and understanding.

Junghyun Lee, Research Associate, Exhibition Planning Team, 02-6312-4068, lee.junghyun@kdi.re.kr