HUFS holds 'Model EU' on climate change

Participants of the Model European Union 2020 pose during the event held Oct. 30 at the Obama Hall in Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS)./ Courtesy of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

By Lee Hyo-jin

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) held “Model European Union 2020,” an educational simulation of the EU, on the topic of “climate change and environment.”

The full day event was held by the Jean Monette EU Centre of HUFS on Oct. 30 at the Obama Hall on the university's main campus in Seoul. It was cohosted with the Jean Monette EU Centres of Yonsei University and Korea University.

Undergraduates and graduate students from 16 universities participated in the model EU executive board meeting, each taking roles of EU commission representatives, ministers for environment of the member states and journalists.

Participants shared their ideas on climate change through vigorous debates, after which they performed a mock press conference.

At the opening ceremony, Kim Si-hong, director of HUFS Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, gave welcoming remarks, followed by an opening speech by Maria Castillo Fernandez, the EU ambassador to Korea.

HUFS President Kim In-chul and John Bogaerts, deputy head of the EU delegation to Korea, each gave congratulatory remarks at the closing ceremony.

The Grand Prize, Jean Monnet Centre Award, Korea University EU Centre Award, and Yonsei-EU Centre Award went to six entries. The top winners were Bu Ye-rin and Mochamad Alvin Dwiana Qobulsyah of Seoul National University, and Lee Yoon-ki of Hanyang University.