EMBASSY LINE

German experts to discuss energy

The German Embassy will hold a seminar on decarbonization at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Seoul on March 21.

The seminar is titled At “The German Energy Transition — how to simultaneously secure competitiveness and transform the energy sector of an industrialized

nation towards decarbonization.”

Director General for European and International Climate Protection Policy at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Frans-Josef Schafhausen will discuss decarbonization with Korean exerts

including Visiting Professor KAIST at the Graduate School of Green Growth Kim Sang-hyup.

According to the embassy, Germany predicts that its economy will save about $50 billion in spending on fossil fuels by 2020, while the share of renewable energy production reach 35 percent and carbon emissions will be down 40 percent.

The country will increase its energy security because Germany now imports between 85 and up to 100 percent of fossil fuels, ranging from natural gas to uranium.

Germany aims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 95 percent by 2050, which will require much more substantives changes in German society and production patterns.

Seoul goes green for St. Patrick’s Day

At this time of the year, landmarks around the world are getting ready to go green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, and Seoul is no exception.

Irish Ambassador to Korea Aingeal O’Donoghue has hosted a series of events to celebrate the Ireland’s national festival this year.

On March 15, the ambassador held a St. Patrick’s Day business breakfast for Irish and Korean businesspeople. Pat O’Riordan, Enterprise Ireland director for North Asia, gave a briefing. “Bilateral trade relations between Ireland and Korea are

growing strongly with both economies having vibrant and complementary export sectors,” he said.

The Irish Embassy also hosted a reception at the Grand Hyatt Seoul. The reception showcased Irish food as well as an exhibition on the centenary of the Easter 1916 Rising — a key moment on the path to independence.

To commemorate those of Irish birth and heritage who fought in the Korean War, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Sung-choon and the ambassador

laid wreaths at the Irish Memorial at the Korean War Memorial on March 17.

This year’s highlight for Koreans and the Irish Community was the annual “St. Patrick’s Day Festival,” at D-Cube City Plaza, Sindorim, on March 19. The festival

has gone from strength to strength as more and more young Koreans get to know Ireland and share in the culture and traditional music.