Visegrad countries share knowhow in clean energy

Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Mozes Csoma, fourth from left, Czech Ambassador to Korea Gustav Slamecka, second from left, and Slovak Ambassador to Korea Jan Kuderjavy, third from left, pose for a photo during the opening of the V4 Clean Energy + Flavours & Melodies event at Lotte Hotel Seoul, May 26. Courtesy of Embassy of Hungary in Korea

By Kwon Mee-yoo

The embassies of four Visegrad Group countries in Korea hosted a public diplomacy event exploring the scope for cooperation on clean energy and cultural exchanges at Lotte Hotel Seoul, May 26.

The Visegrad Group, also known as V4, is an alliance of four central and eastern European countries ― Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. From July 2021 to June 2022, Hungary holds the presidency and the Embassy of Hungary in Korea took the lead in organizing the event in Seoul.

Hungarian Ambassador to Korea Mozes Csoma opened the event, which consisted of a conference on clean energy, a drink tasting opportunity and a concert, highlighting the deep cooperation between the V4 countries.

"The cooperation of our countries started in the 14th century, in the year 1335. The rulers of Hungary, Poland and the Czech met in Hungary in the palace of Visegrad, which is located north of Budapest, and they agreed on political and trade cooperation. Let me note that was the time when the Goryeo Kingdom existed on the Korean peninsula shortly before the reign of (King) Gongminwang," Csoma said, highlighting his expertise in Korean studies.

"The cooperation of the Visegrad countries was reborn 31 years ago and all of us are developing successful ties with South Korea," he added.

Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Korea Gustav Slamecka explained the unique concept of the event combining a clean energy conference and food and music.

"I think it is interesting for everybody to see how clean energy can nicely blend with the melodies and flavors and this idea really reflects how our countries are at the same time trying to improve our technological capabilities, but still keeping a good tradition in classic music and food," Slamecka said.

"We fully recognize that Korea is among the world leaders in scientific research and development and applied science. The Czech Republic considers this area a priority as well as a key precondition to economic competitiveness... The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Seoul, together with the Czech Invest in Seoul, proclaimed that the year 2020 is the year of Czech excellence in South Korea. The objective of the project is to further strengthen the existing research and development cooperation between our country and the Republic of Korea and introduce prominent Czech R&D centers to relevant Korean counterparts."

Jan Kuderjavy, the ambassador of Slovakia to Korea, hoped the event will contribute to deeper scientific collaboration between the four countries of Visegrad and Korea.

"We live in a time when even the largest and richest countries are not able to generate all the knowledge they need. However, thanks to international collaboration, the acquired knowledge can be diffused around the globe and contribute to solving grand societal challenges including the most urgent ones ― protection of the environment," Kuderjavy said.

The ambassador also elaborated on how countries can cooperate on reaching the goal of climate neutrality by 2050.

"Our strategic documents in the field of national research and innovation are from now on focusing on the decarbonization of the economy, battery technologies, alternative fuel, low carbon industrial processes and materials. The primary task will be the affordability of new alternative sources of energy and fuel where hydrogen can serve as a good example," the Slovak ambassador said introducing the country's national hydrogen strategy.

Polish Charge d'Affaires Arletta Brzozowska said in a welcome message sent via video that scientific cooperation is a very important area not only among the V4 countries, but also with Korea.

Min Won-ki, ambassador for Science Technology & Innovation from Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, introduced recent developments in the relations between V4 countries and Korea including former President Moon Jae-in's visit to Hungary and the V4-Korea summit last year.

"Korea is expanding its R&D investment in various climate technologies to accelerate the clean energy transition. Since the V4 countries have a competitive edge in basic science and Korea has strength in applied science, I have no doubt that the cooperation between our two parties will create great synergy," Min said.

Istvan Szabo, vice president of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office Hungary, delivered an introductory speech on the framework of cooperation in R&D between the V4 countries and Korea, while Korea's National Research Foundation International Director Hwang Deok-soo introduced the achievements of the Korea-V4 cooperative research program.

In the first session, Akos Horvath, director general of the center for energy research in Hungary, delivered a keynote speech on "The security of energy supply in the 21st century ― V4 collaboration in the field of nuclear reactor development."

Nishant Bhardwaj of the Global Green Growth Institute gave the second keynote speech on "Achieving regional energy security, carbon neutrality ― commitments, technologies and best practices."

Hungarian folk music band Hungaricus performs during the V4 Clean Energy + Flavours & Melodies event at Lotte Hotel Seoul, May 26. Courtesy of Embassy of Hungary in Korea

Cultural exchange

After the forum, a variety of drinks from the V4 countries, ranging from beer and wine to unique spirits were offered in the "Nectars of Our Lands" session.

The night continued to the "V4 Melodies Concert," featuring the finest of Central European melodies performed by Korean and Visegrad musicians.

The repertoire encompassed classical and folk music from the region such as Polish composers Henryk Wieniawski's "Legende Op. 17" and Grazyna Bacewicz's "Polish Caprice" as well as Slovak musician Eugen Suchon's "Adagio in G minor for Piano."

Hungary presented Bela Bartok's "Romanian Folk Dances" and Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody," while Czech composer Zdenek Fibich's "Poeme op. 39" and Bedrich Smetana's "From My Homeland" were also performed.