KOICA Hosts Online Youth Talk Concert on 'COVID-19 and Climate Change Cooperation'

Talk Concert on the 22nd with the Theme 'Overcoming International Crises through Innovation, Cooperation, and Solidarity'
Sharing the Achievements of Youth Supporting Domestic and International COVID-19 Recovery
Youth Ideas on the Environment, a Key Global Issue Alongside Infectious Diseases, Also Presented

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) announced on the 25th that it held a talk concert featuring young Koreans responding to COVID-19 and climate change both domestically and internationally through the KOICA Innopoint (Youth Innovation Center) YouTube channel.

On the 22nd, KOICA conducted an online live broadcast on YouTube titled "Youth Talk Concert: How Ordinary Youth of the Peninsula Respond to COVID-19 and Climate Change," under the theme "Overcoming International Crises through Innovation, Cooperation, and Solidarity." The event aimed to allow youth, the main actors of the post-COVID era, to share their concerns and solutions for overcoming crises such as infectious diseases and climate change, and to become key participants in discussions on the new normal of development cooperation.

The event opened with a welcome speech by KOICA Chairperson Imi Kyung and congratulatory remarks by Oh Jun, Chairperson of Save the Children. In the first part, titled "Youth Fighting COVID-19 in Korea," speakers included Choi Joo-won and Kim Jun-tae, students at Korea University who developed and operate the COVID Alert and Mask Alert apps; Kim Jin-ah, a researcher at the Daegu Infectious Disease Control Support Group; and Jang Jae-hyun, a public health doctor in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. They shared their roles, reflections on responding to COVID-19, and challenges faced from their respective positions.

In the second part, titled "Challenges of Youth Engaged Overseas in Overcoming COVID-19," speakers included Kim Jae-hwi, Education Specialist at UNICEF Myanmar Office; Kim Jun-ho, team leader at startup KH Medical, which developed COVID-19 diagnostic kit technology; Lee Jung-geun, Nutrition Program Officer at the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP); and Kim Byung-chul, KOICA Global Cooperation Doctor active in Nepal. They discussed the local COVID-19 impact, their roles, and the difficulties faced in development cooperation sectors such as health, education, and malnutrition, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Chairperson Imi Kyung stated, "In a situation where others' health affects oneself due to COVID-19, it is necessary to understand infectious diseases and environmental issues from a global perspective and respond within one's community. Youth, who are the present and future leaders, already possess a clear awareness of these issues and are cooperating and forming solidarity by leveraging their own interests and specialties." She added, "I hope sharing the awareness and activities of youth will inspire other young people and serve as an opportunity to encourage active discussion and participation."

Meanwhile, in the third part, nine youth teams presented ideas for "Community Problem-Solving Projects Based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)" focusing on environmental issues threatening humanity alongside COVID-19.