This document discusses opportunities for young researchers in climate change adaptation in South Korea. It notes that while awareness of climate change is high, awareness of adaptation specifically is lower. It then outlines several academic programs focused on climate adaptation, including graduate schools and research teams. It provides examples of large, long-term research projects on adaptation led by the Ministry of Environment. It also discusses training opportunities for students through an international environmental expert program. The conclusion emphasizes that intentional opportunities to engage with adaptation issues, such as these academic programs, are important for informing and involving young researchers in the climate change agenda.

1. Fosteringclimatechangehumanresourcesto set the
next generationagenda:
ProvidingopportunitiestoengageinclimateadaptationR&Datthefrontlines
Jung Hee Hyun
PhD Student, Lab of Landscape Ecology and Climate Change Adaptation
Seoul National University, South Korea
UNFCCC NAP EXPO 2019
PARALLEL SESSION 7.1: GLOBAL YOUTH
ADAPTATION DIALOGUE

2. Overview
• Korean public perception of climate change adaptation
• Academic exposure to climate adaptation
• Research opportunities in climate adaptation
• Training opportunities in climate adaptation
• The climate adaptation agenda as a young researcher in
Korea

3. Public Perceptionson Climate Change Adaptation
• According to a perception survey of the general public in Korea
from 2015
• 25% of the general public were aware of the term “adaptation”
while 78% had heard of “climate change”
• The relative importance of adaptation was lower in relation to
mitigation
• Meanwhile, of survey participants who identified themselves
as stakeholders in the climate change field, more than 90%
were aware of the terminology and issues around adaptation
• Such findings are relatively uniform across generations and
socio-demographic characteristics
• Importance of opportunities to expose and inform oneself to the
issues of climate change.

4. Academicexposureto climate adaptation
GraduateSchoolsofClimateChange
Focus Host University Time
Mitigation Inha University 2013~2018
Hoseo University 2013~2018
Kunkuk University 2014~2019
Sejong University 2014~2019
Jun nam University 2014~2019
Jungang University 2014~2019
Adaptation Sukmyung University 2014~2019
Pusan National University 2016~2021
• Aim to cultivate master's and doctoral
level specialists in climate change and
expand relevant research by providing
relevant courses and supporting
research
• Host departments range from
environmental engineering to
business schools indicating the
diversity in climate change related
education opportunities provided
History of KECO supported Graduate Schools of
Climate Change

5. Academicexposureto climate adaptation
BrainKorea21(BK21+)ProjectTeams
• As a national effort, the BK21+ project
supports 450+ teams to foster the next
generation researchers to create new
knowledge and technologies
• More than 10 teams are solely dedicated
to climate change research while many
more have close associations
• As a student participant, direct benefits
include opening of new courses to
financial support to attend international
conferences
Example of open talks with invited guest speaker
Example of research output from a BK21 team

6. Researchopportunities in climate adaptation
IntegratedModelforClimateChangeAdaptation(MOTIVEprojectteam)
• The purpose of this research is to develop an integrated
evaluation model reflecting Korean circumstance to be
utilized for designing 'science-based adaptation strategies'
• This research team has been supported by the Ministry of
Environment for seven years until April 2021.
• This is a Interdisciplinary Research with more than 60
doctoral researchers from Korea Environment Institute, Seoul
National Univ, Korea Univ, National Institute of Ecology and so
on.
• Amongst the students who’ve participated in the project
have gone onto become professors and researchers with
climate change expertise

7. Researchopportunities in climate adaptation
Decision-makingSupportToolsforClimateChangeAdaptation
• New project supported by Ministry of Environment from 2018~2021
What are the decision support tools needed by the local governments?
What adaptation plan should be developed using this?

8. Researchopportunities in climate adaptation
Decision-makingSupportToolsforClimateChangeAdaptation
• More than 30 doctoral students and 40 master’s students involved

9. Training opportunities in climate adaptation
• The Ministry of Environment has supported an
“International environmental expert training course” since
2009, which provides undergraduate and graduate students
from various backgrounds to learn from various
environmental experts over 8 weeks to then be placed for
internships in international organizations
• Every year 40~50 students are selected to participate in the
program
• According to a graduated participant from 2014, most
students initially commit to the program for the
international internship opportunity
• However, throughout the course recognize the magnitude
and relevance of environmental issues on a local and global
scale.
• Especially since education on these issues are not
addressed in the formal education course, for many
students the program serves as a wake up call to
environmental and climate change issues.

10. Concluding Thoughts
• As a young researcher exploring the field of climate adaption
from an academic perspective, I’ve come to recognize the
importance of intentional (a systematic or top-down approach)
opportunities provided
• Such opportunities have been fundamental in shaping career
choices with the knowledge and exposure to the most up to
date climate change issues and expert opinions made
accessible.
• With continued efforts to provide such opportunities for
youth, the climate change agenda can remain relevant and
further developed

11. Thank you!