EU ambassadors visit underground waste management facility in Hanam

Hanam Mayor Kim Sang-ho, fifth from right, introduces upcycling projects to EU ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo Fernandez, fourth from right, at the Hanam Union Tower in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, April 11. Courtesy of Hanam City

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Ambassadors of the European Union in Korea visited Hanam City to tour an eco-friendly waste treatment facility complex located in east Seoul on April 11.

The delegation consisted of ambassadors and officials from 14 EU member countries: Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, as well as the EU ambassador to Korea, Maria Castillo Fernandez.

The ambassadors visited Hanam Union Park, which houses an underground sewage wastewater treatment plant, a solid waste incinerating plant and a food waste processing facility.

Hanam Union Park is considered a successful example of turning a facility that is normally protested along NIMBY ("not in my back yard") lines into an environmentally-friendly project with a park. The ambassadors showed a keen interest in the construction and management of the facility.

They also visited the observatory of the Hanam Union Tower to appreciate the panoramic view of Hanam City, the Han River and Mt. Geomdan. Hanam Mayor Kim Sang-ho gave a brief explanation of the city's major sites such as Iseongsanseong Fortress and the Gwangju Hyanggyo (a state-funded academy where students studied Confucianism and prepared for the civil service examinations during the Goryeo Dynasty) and talked about the major companies and business opportunities in the city.

"Hanam City is emerging as a new hub of the Seoul Metropolitan area and we hope to increase cooperation with EU member countries in investment as well as cultural exchanges through this visit," Mayor Kim said.

EU ambassador Castillo responded that Hanam City has great potential to form partnerships in tackling climate change with European cities.