Koreans understand global challenges

The following was contributed by U.S. Amb. to Korea Kathleen Stephens. Ed.

All of us who live in Korea have seen increasing signs in Seoul and throughout the country that the long-anticipated G20 Seoul Summit is about to happen. Riding the KTX train, I’ve seen G20 signs carved in the fields. 

Here in Seoul, I was visited last week by a “Talk to the G20 Leaders” promotional bus tour. As a means to promote the G20 Seoul Summit to the Korean public, the Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit launched a campaign for Korean citizens to send questions and messages to the G20 leaders. Korean citizens made submissions in three ways: through fixed campaign booths at COEX, a promotional bus that toured around the nation, and a dedicated G20 Web site. More than 18,000 messages were received through these outlets! After President Lee, Koreans posed the most questions to President Obama, with a total of over 4,000 questions and messages sent to the American President. 

On Nov. 2, the G20 bus stopped by the U.S. Embassy in Gwanghwamun to deliver the questions and messages to President Obama. It was a nice opportunity to step outside on a beautiful day and receive the questions from a family with two bright girls. The bus looked great, it was a wonderful idea and I look forward to delivering the messages and questions to President Obama.

Many of the questions reflected a nuanced understanding that if the world is going to be able to grow at a strong, sustainable pace, we need to achieve more balance in the pattern of global growth. That is why what the G20 achieved at the Gyeongju Ministerial was so important. A consensus is emerging that, in the current economic environment, all countries must play their part in contributing to stronger and more sustainable growth. 

Many messages expressed deep passion for the environment. These were reassuring. The United States and Korea are coordinating closely in international climate change discussions and are together exploring ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, our two countries are carrying out several collaborative projects in researching, developing and deploying new clean energy innovations, including wind, solar and SmartGrid technologies.