Jeollanamdo Europe Office

Representative Office of Jeollanamdo Provincial Government of South Korea

Category: Jeollanamdo & Europe

Jeollanam-do Accelerates International Efforts to Secure Hosting of the UNFCCC Climate Week 2026

Posted by on in 2025, Jeollanamdo & Europe, UNLeave a comment

Jeollanam-do is intensifying its efforts to secure the hosting of the UNFCCC Climate Week 2026 in South Korea, working closely with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and key international climate institutions. Following its selection as the national host candidate, the province is now actively advancing final-stage international lobbying and preparation.

The Climate Week, launched in 2021 under the leadership of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is one of the world’s most significant climate platforms. Delegations from 198 member countries, international organizations, NGOs, and global experts participate to engage in preliminary discussions that shape the official agenda of the COP.

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, Jeollanam-do presented its carbon-neutrality strategy and highlighted the importance of hosting the Climate Week in Yeosu. A formal letter from the Governor of Jeollanam-do was delivered to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell, expressing South Korea’s commitment and request for hosting rights.

In December, a delegation led by Jeollanam-do’s Ambassador for International Relations, Park Cheol-ju, visited the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn and the ICLEI World Secretariat. During meetings with UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary Noura Hammamaji and ICLEI Secretary General Gino van Begin, the delegation emphasized Jeollanam-do’s readiness and the global importance of holding the 2026 Climate Week in South Korea. UN officials acknowledged Jeollanam-do’s strong capabilities and commitment.

The official host decision is expected later this December. Jeollanam-do is already preparing high-quality conference venues, meaningful side programs, and secure and convenient accommodation and transport systems.

Governor Kim Young-rok stated:
“Hosting the UNFCCC Climate Week 2026 would not only position South Korea as a global leader in climate response, but also serve as a crucial opportunity to showcase Jeollanam-do’s long-standing commitment and capacity in the field. We will continue to work with all relevant institutions to successfully secure the hosting.”

Goheung County Honors Legacy of Sorok Island’s “Angels” During Visit to Austria

Posted by on in 2025, Education, Jeollanamdo & EuropeLeave a comment

Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, paid tribute to the lifelong dedication of Marianne Stoeger and the late Margaret Pissarek – widely known as the “Angels of Sorok Island” – during an official visit to Austria on the 13th of November.

The delegation met with Marianne’s family, as well as representatives of the Austrian Catholic Women’s Association, which had provided financial support for the nurses’ volunteer work decades earlier.

Marianne and Margaret, both trained nurses, devoted themselves to caring for patients on Sorok Island beginning in 1962, providing compassion and medical service for more than 40 years before returning to Austria in 2005. Margaret passed away in 2023, while Marianne continues to reside in her home country.

The county, which named them honorary citizens in 2016 and provides a monthly pension, is also promoting their legacy through initiatives such as the Marianne and Margaret Sharing Training Center and youth volunteer programs.

South Jeolla Province Opens Permanent Agricultural, Marine, and Food Sales Center in Berlin, Germany

Posted by on in 2025, Agriculture, Events, Export, Jeollanamdo & Europe, The Kitchen of KoreaLeave a comment

South Jeolla Province has strengthened its foothold in the European market by opening a permanent sales center for agricultural and marine products inside Momogoo Mart in Berlin. The store, which opened on the 13th of November, marks the first offline retail location of Momogo – a fast-growing food-tech startup known for operating one of Germany’s leading online platforms for Asian food products.

The dedicated sales space features more than 100 premium items from over 40 Jeonnam companies, including Wando seaweed, Boseong green tea, Goheung citron tea, Naju pear beverages, and Gurye wild vegetables. It also offers trendy products such as pouch drinks and konjac jelly, which are gaining popularity among younger German consumers.

Momogo’s CEO highlighted the growing influence of younger demographics in shaping food trends, stating, “With consumers in their 20s and 30s driving K-food demand, the next five to ten years will be a peak growth period.” He emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding the presence of Jeollanam-do’s high-quality agricultural and marine products across Europe through combined online and offline strategies.

Goheung County is exploring the German market for local agricultural and marine products

Posted by on in 2025, Agriculture, Events, Export, Jeollanamdo & EuropeLeave a comment

Goheung County announced on the 12th of November that it has signed a $5 million export agreement with Momogo, an Asian food ingredient distribution company based in Berlin, marking a major step in expanding overseas markets for its premium agricultural and marine products.

The partnership signals the start of full-scale market development in Germany, where Goheung aims to introduce regional specialties to a broader European audience.

Momogo, known for distributing Asian food ingredients and meal kits through multiple consumer-friendly brands, will gradually bring Goheung’s high-quality products- such as yuzu, seasoned laver, dried vegetables, and rice – to German consumers.

Under the agreement, Goheung County will support the establishment of a stable supply system, while the Eden Food Agricultural Cooperative will manage quality control and shipments, including key products like yuzu beverages.

Momogo will handle distribution and promotional activities in Germany, working to strengthen awareness and expand sales of Goheung’s signature goods.

Estonia and Greece Sign Participation Agreements for Yeosu Island Expo, 18 Countries Confirmed

Posted by on in 2025, Education, Events, Jeollanamdo & Europe, TourismLeave a comment

The Organizing Committee for the 2026 Yeosu World Expo has strengthened its global network by signing official participation agreements (MOUs) with the Estonian city of Hiiuma and the Ionian region of Greece, both of which had previously expressed their intention to participate in writing.

With these additions, a total of 18 countries and organizations – including France, Greece, Estonia, Madagascar, Peru, Kenya, and the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health – have confirmed their involvement in the event.

The newly participating countries agreed to work closely with the organizing committee on key areas such as promotional activities, exhibition hall operations, scheduling of national days, and the dispatch of official delegations to ensure the successful hosting of the 2026 Expo.

South Korean Delegation Explores Bilbao’s Role as a Sustainable Energy Hub

Posted by on in 2025, Jeollanamdo & Europe, Wind EnergyLeave a comment

A delegation from Jeollanam-do Province in South Korea recently visited the Port of Bilbao to gain deeper insights into its transformation into a sustainable energy hub. The port presented its strategic projects in the fields of offshore wind, renewable hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and broader energy transition measures. A central focus was the BilbOPS project, which from 2027 will enable berthed vessels to connect to renewable shore power. This initiative will significantly reduce emissions and noise pollution in the port area and is partly financed through an €80 million loan from the European Investment Bank, underlining its importance for the region’s green transition.

The discussions also addressed the development of green and digital maritime corridors and the establishment of renewable hydrogen connections between Bilbao and Central Europe, reflecting the port’s ambition to become a key player in the European decarbonisation pathway. For the South Korean delegation, Bilbao’s advanced infrastructure, established logistics networks, and strong offshore energy value chain – with leading companies active in the sector – were of particular interest.

The visit not only provided the Korean representatives with a comprehensive overview of Bilbao’s sustainability efforts but also opened the door for future cooperation between Basque and Korean partners in renewable energy and port innovation. By learning from Bilbao’s example, Jeollanam-do aims to strengthen its own offshore wind and clean energy strategies while exploring opportunities for international collaboration.

More information here: https://www.bilbaoport.eus/en/news/south-korea-visits-the-port-of-bilbao-to-learn-about-its-role-as-a-sustainable-energy-hub/

Suncheon Sets Its Sights on Becoming a Global Healing City 🌿

Posted by on in 2025, Jeollanamdo & Europe, Nature, Tourism, World HeritageLeave a comment

Suncheon, a coastal city in South Korea’s Jeollanam-do Province, is positioning itself as a global hub for wellness tourism. A recent delegation visited the UK and Germany to study innovative models of nature-based healing and social prescribing.

In London, officials met with the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), where CEO Hammad Khan praised Suncheon’s eco-therapy approach as a “practical and powerful model.” Plans are underway for a formal partnership.

Mayor Noh Kwan-kyu emphasized Suncheon’s unique blend of UNESCO-designated gardens, tidal flats, and wetland reserves, which the city plans to integrate with culture, biotech, and sustainable tourism.

The team also explored Maggie’s Healing Center in Manchester and the Kneipp Gardens in Bad Wörishofen, Germany, drawing inspiration for a holistic wellness infrastructure.

Armed with new insights, Suncheon is accelerating efforts to become a global model for healing, nature, and mindful living.

Source: Maeil Business Newspaper

Jeollanamdo Photo Exhibition and Kimbap Cooking Class in Tirol

Posted by on in 2024, Allgemein, Events, Jeollanamdo & Europe, TourismLeave a comment

The Jeollanamdo Photo Exhibition is now open in Innsbruck and Kitzbühel.

The exhibition runs for approximately four weeks at Artium Landhaus 2 in Innsbruck and the KCC in Kitzbühel. A formal opening ceremony was held in Innsbruck on September 6 to commemorate the launch.

On September 6 and 7, the Jeollanamdo Europe Office also hosted exclusive Kimbap cooking classes, offering participants a hands-on experience in preparing this traditional Korean dish. The cooking classes were led by Director, Dr. Peter Kim and marketing manager Tamara Wiedersum. They were well-received by attendees.

The event provided a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of Jeollanamdo through photography, combined with an introduction to Korean cuisine.

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Jeollanamdo Governor signs contract with Linde and Hanyang

Posted by on in 2023, Jeollanamdo & EuropeLeave a comment

The Governor of Jeollanamdo, Kim Young-rok, visited Europe at the beginning of May. During his visit, he also came to Frankfurt to sign an investment agreement with Linde and Hanyang on May 3rd to build a blue hydrogen production cluster which is worth 800 million USD.

Linde is the world’s largest industrial gas and engineering company that makes active investments around the world. This includes green energy production, processes, and use, in each field of the hydrogen value chain. Hanyang is expanding its scope beyond the construction and plant business to LNG terminal business, renewable to geological production, and clean hydrogen power generation.

The signing ceremony was attended by Jeollanamdo Governor Kim Young-rok, Sean Durbin, the general Linde representative of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Hanyang CEO Kim Hyung-il, Linde Korea CEO Sung Baek-seok and LNG Hub Terminal CEO Moon Byung-chul.

Hanyang is currently constructing an LNG terminal on Myodo Island and is promoting the construction of a cogeneration plant. Linde and Hanyang plan to produce blue hydrogen on that island and also aim to enter the clean hydrogen power generation business. The plan is to invest a total of $800 million from 2024 to 2030, to produce 80,000 tons of blue hydrogen per year, collect 430,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, and bury 13 million tons of carbon dioxide in overseas storage for 30 years.

Hydrogen energy is used in industries such as power generation (fuel cells) and energy storage as a transition factor to a decarbon economy. It is expected to contribute to the stabilization of the power system by reducing the volatility of renewable energy through energy storage and power generation using hydrogen.

Prior to the investment agreement that was signed in Frankfurt, Governor Kim Young-rok visited the Basf headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany, Basf is the largest chemical producer in the world. The Governor thanked Jeollanamdo for its win-win efforts. He furthermore proposed continuous investment in future growth industries such as precision chemistry, semiconductor and battery materials, and renewable energy.

Picture and information taken from dailyimpact.

Jeollanamdo signs Joint Venture Agreement for Offshore Wind

Posted by on in 2022, Investment, Jeollanamdo & Europe, Renewable Energy, Wind EnergyLeave a comment

On Tuesday (March 8th), Jeollanamdo signed a joint venture agreement with Danish offshore wind power company Vestas and CS Wind a Korean company.

The ceremony was hosted by the Danish ambassador to Korea, Einar H. Jensen in the Danish embassy in Seoul. The agreement was signed by Jeollanamdo’s Governor Kim Yung-rok and Vestas president and CEO Henrik Andersen as well as CS Wind chairman Kim Sung-kwon.

The agreement is the next step in Jeollanamdo’s ambitious plan to establish the world’s largest offshore wind farm at the size of 8.2 GW. Through the joint venture, Vestas and CS-Wind plan to establish competitive production facilities for assembling wind towers, blades and turbines in Jeollanamdo.

Further information on Jeollanamdo’s 8.2 GW wind farm can be found here.

Jeollanamdo Food Ambassador Program

Posted by on in 2021, Jeollanamdo & Europe, The Kitchen of KoreaLeave a comment
  • Who we are
    • We are the Jeollanamdo Europe Office, we are the representative  office of the Jeollanamdo Provincial Government of South Korea in Frankfurt, Germany. Our mission is to promote various food products from Jeollanamdo in Europe. To give you the chance to try some of the best and most delicious food products Jeollanamdo has to offer, we are launching the Jeollanamdo Food Ambassador Program 2021 in Europe.
  • The program
    • We are looking for a maximum of 50 people from across Europe, preferably from various countries, to promote the wide variety of food products from Jeollanamdo. The duration of the program is 3 months.
    • You will receive 3 boxes, one each month from October till December 2021. Each box will contain a few food products from Jeollanamdo.
  • Your task
    • Your mission is to create content (pictures, videos, etc) containing the items in the box.
    • You should make at least 3 posts for each box containing the items in the box and post them under the hashtags #JeonnamFoodBox2021 and #KitchenOfKorea
  • Requirements
    • You must be at least 18 years old.
    • You must be a resident of a European country.
    • You should have at least one public social media account and consider yourself an active social media user.
    • You are able to create content in English or another European language.
    • Further information on our requirements, terms and conditions can be found here.
Apply Now!!

Fill out this Google Form to apply!

  • How to apply
    •  You can apply by filling in this google form here https://forms.gle/hZ1WJm9ACYj1Wm6FA 
    • The deadline is Sunday the 12th of September 2021
    • We’ll look through all the applications and contact the selected people about a week after the deadline via email and the contacted people then have a week to get back to us. 
  • We look forward to hearing from you and if you have any questions feel free to contact us via our social media channels or through email.

Jeollanamdo and Esbjerg sign MoU

Posted by on in 2021, Diplomacy, Investment, Jeollanamdo & Europe, Renewable Energy, Technology, Wind EnergyLeave a comment

Kim Yung-rok, governor of South Korea’s province Jeollanamdo and Jesper Frost Rasmussen, mayor of Esbjerg Commune in the Kingdom of Denmark signed a MoU on Wednesday (30.06.2021) morning.

Through the memorandum both parties promise closer cooperation in the fields of renewable energy to fight climate change together. They plan to achieve this by exchanging information and experience as well as exploring possibilities for joint commercial projects and partnerships.

The main focus of this new cooperation will be on offshore wind energy. Just earlier this year, Jeollanamdo has announced to build a 8.2 GW wind farm at the coast of Sinan county. It will become the largest wind farm in the world. Jeollanamdo and Esbjerg are ideal partners, as Esbjerg is one of the world’s leading ports in providing infrastructure for off shore wind parks in the North Sea of Europe.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the signing ceremony was held online. The MoU will have a duration of three years but can be expended.

Spanish firm to invest $100 m in Jeollanamdo

Posted by on in 2021, Investment, Jeollanamdo & Europe, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, TechnologyLeave a comment

During a business forum in Madrid, Spain, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, South Korea’s President Moon Jae In proposed a closer partnership between the two countries in order to tackle climate change in a combined effort.

Shortly after the meeting two Spanish firms revealed their plans to invest a combined sum of $ 200 m in the renewable energy business in South Korea. While the Madrid based company Ocean Winds will make an initial investment of $ 100 m to establish an offshore wind power plant in Incheon, EDPR will invest an additional $ 100 m in a solar power farm in Goheung, Jeollanamdo.

This investment is another big step in Jeollanamdo’s blue economy plan to become a center of Korea’s renewable energy industry. Just earlier this year, President Moon unveiled plans for the world’s biggest wind farm just west of the coast of Mokpo (Read more here).

Marianne Stöger receives the Florence Nightingale Medal

Posted by on in 2021, Allgemein, Jeollanamdo & EuropeLeave a comment

It was revealed that Marianne Stöger (87) has been selected as the 48th Korean winner of the “Florence Nightingale Medal” which is awarded by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Marianne Stöger was born in Austria and graduated from a nursing school in Innsbruck. After her graduation she decided to go to Sorok Island to help the people with Hansen disease living there, because she had heard that there was a shortage of nurses, even though she had no connection to Korea. She served the people on Sorok Island for over 40 years starting from 1962. She cleaned the patient’s pus with her bare hands, applied medicine and devoted herself to serve the people there. In 2005 she returned home to Innsbruck, since her age and health made it difficult to continue her volunteer work and she did not want to become a burden to the people she had helped. She left Korea with only a farewell letter to her acquaintances.  Marianne is also an honorary member of the Korean Nursing Association.
According to the Red Cross the award is a result of her noble spirit to serve across borders and dedication to the healing of the Hansen’s disease patients and their return to society she has shown.

The Florence Nightingale Medal was created by the ICRC in 1912 to commemorate Nightingale’s dedication during the Crimean War. Since 1920 every 2 years not more than 50 people that have done outstanding work in nursing are selected to receive the Florence Nightingale Medal.

Jeollanamdo sends first container of products to sell on Amazon Europe

Posted by on in 2021, Agriculture, Jeollanamdo & Europe, The Kitchen of KoreaLeave a comment

On February 26, 2021 officials of Jeollanamdo held a shipping ceremony for the first ever container of food products to be send off to Europe to be sold on Amazon Europe. This first shipment contains over 15 different products, such as seaweed, dried fish snacks and different kinds of tea and juice. The products will be sold exclusively under the brand Jeollanamdo The Kitchen of Korea.

As the Jeollanamdo brand The Kitchen of Korea is already entering its second year in the US market after a successful first year, Jeollanamdo is now keen to repeat this success in Europe.

The container is expected to arrive in Hamburg, Germany in late March and the products will first be sold throughout the whole European Union, using the Amazon online stores of four European countries: Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

Jeollanamdo The Kitchen of Korea is a registered trademark by Jeollanamdo. The goal of the brand is to enable easy and direct access to food products from Jeollanamdo. Read more.

By directly promoting food products from the region, Jeollanamdo aims to offer agricultural and marine products at reasonable prices. In order to do this, Jeollanamdo and nine export companies have registered the Exporter Certificate of Origin. This certificate allows exporters from Jeollanamdo to prove their country of origin so that they can benefit from the free trade agreement between the Republic of Korea and the European Union.

The European Union has the second highest growth rates in the online food market and thanks to the growing awareness and interest in Korean culture and products, Jeollanamdo is aiming to establish its own products in Europe.