An electric car is on display at the Green Growth Exhibition held in International Convention Center Jeju, Tuesday. ASEAN leaders had a tour of the exhibition hall led by President Lee Myng-bak. / Yonhap

By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter

Policymakers and business leaders at the Korea-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on Jeju Island have been getting an earful of green this and green that. An exhibition at the ICC Jeju convention center finally gave them something to feel and touch.

The ``Green Growth Exhibition'' displayed a wide range of devices and models that represented the country's ambitions for renewable energy and clean technology, which clearly have been the buzzwords of the forum.

South Korea President Lee Myung-bak, wearing a green tie, led the 10 heads of state from the ASEAN member countries on a tour of the exhibition room, Tuesday, which was a welcome break from the gruesome schedule of meetings.

The exhibition featured mockup models for the country's solar power systems, next-generation nuclear power plants, ``smart grid'' electricity control systems, wind power generators and hydrogen fuel cells. A variety of devices and machines, including hybrid vehicles and light-emitting diode (LED) displays, were also on display.

The front of the exhibition room was equipped with 11 ultra-thin liquid crystal screens (LCDs) using LED backlighting technologies, beaming each face of the heads of state and greetings in their own languages.


As presenters and expert engineers explained each item to the visitors, Lee expressed particularly pride in the country's plans for a system integrated modular advanced reactor (SMART) that is designed to generate electric power and turn sea water into fresh water.

The world's first of its kind, SMART will represent a new-generation of nuclear reactors that are designed to be used safely in urban environments, Lee said.

``Portable, and no pollution,'' Lee told his guests.


thkim@koreatimes.co.kr