First Consecutive Re-Designation Since Initial Selection in 2022
Mayor Lee Sangil: "Continuing to Develop Policies to Make Environmental Education an Investment in the Future"
Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province announced on November 10 that it has been re-designated as an "Environmental Education City" by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment.
The "Environmental Education City" program is a system in which the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment designates local governments with outstanding environmental education infrastructure, achievements, and plans to promote environmental education, providing support for three years. Through a review process, the ministry has designated six local governments as Environmental Education Cities this time.
The city was first designated as an Environmental Education City in 2022, the inaugural year of the program, and has now achieved the distinction of being re-designated. Yongin City’s consecutive re-designation, along with Incheon and Dobong District in Seoul, marks the first such case among local governments nationwide.
With this re-designation, the city explained that it has established a foundation to develop and implement a variety of environmental education policies as an Environmental Education City from next year through 2028.
During the re-designation review process, Mayor Lee Sangil of Yongin personally participated in an interview to explain the city’s various efforts to address the climate crisis and its educational initiatives for students, who represent the future generation. Mayor Lee specifically introduced major projects such as the construction and operation plan for the Yongin Comprehensive Environmental Education Center, the fostering of "Eco-Schools for the Planet," the distribution and operation of the "Yongin Digital Eco School," and support for the designation of outstanding environmental education schools.
Among these, the "Eco-Schools for the Planet" initiative has been recognized as the nation’s first case in which environmental education experts are exclusively assigned to schools to provide specialized ecological transition and environmental education, making a significant contribution to the promotion of environmental education.
The city is continuously promoting environmental education and practical activities in collaboration with the Yongin Office of Education, environmental organizations, the Integrated Science Education Research Institute at Dankook University, as well as local universities, businesses, and civic groups. It is also formulating and implementing a variety of policies so that citizens can experience environmental protection practices and culture in their daily lives.
In partnership with the Ministry of Environment and the resort division of Samsung C&T Corporation, the city has signed a "Voluntary Agreement to Reduce Single-Use Cups" and is promoting the use of reusable cups at Everland, thereby expanding single-use reduction efforts in the private sector. At the same time, the city is implementing the "Zero Single-Use Cup Government Office" initiative. The city hall cafeteria is also operating a "Zero Food Waste from Today" system to reduce food waste.
Mayor Lee stated, "This re-designation is especially meaningful as it recognizes Yongin’s leading role as an Environmental Education City. We will continue to develop and implement policies to make environmental education a valuable investment in the future."
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