Global Economic Times

“Urban Community Headquarters Holds 1st Sustainable Urban Community Forum in Sejong”: LEE YEON SIL Reporter / Updated : 2026-03-27 21:50:51

- Proclaiming a Vision for Urban Innovation, from ESG and Innovation to Global Connectivity… Unveiling the Blueprint for Future Urban Communities

The Urban Community Headquarters (UCH, Chairperson Lee Ga-hee), a non-profit corporation, held the "1st Sustainable Urban Community Forum" on Wednesday, March 25, at the Areum-dong Integrated Community Center in Sejong City. Sponsored by the Korea Media Literacy Convergence Research Institute (CEO Jang Young-rae), the forum opened with congratulatory remarks and a keynote speech by elders of the Korean science and technology community, presenting a blueprint for future urban communities that encompasses urban innovation, ESG, and global networks. The forum was followed by the 2026 Annual General Meeting, serving as an integrated event to ensure both operational transparency and civic participation.

Support from Science and Technology Elders and a Keynote on the Future of Cities
The forum began with recommendation remarks from Dr. Jang In-soon, an elder of the Korean science and technology community, and Dr. Jeong Yong-hwan, former Director of the Nuclear Materials Research Group at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Both scientists agreed that technology alone cannot solve urban problems and that a community-based approach led by citizens is essential, encouraging the launch of the Urban Community Headquarters.

The keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Park Yeon-soo, an engineering expert who led the construction of Incheon International Airport and Songdo International City and served as the former Commissioner of the National Emergency Management Agency. Under the theme "The Future City, the City’s Future," Dr. Park diagnosed that the arrival of the AI era would fundamentally change cities and ways of life. He emphasized, "For an Intelligent City to become an ideal, technology is not enough; love, happiness, and good relationships must be at the center of the city," noting that the direction pursued by UCH aligns perfectly with the challenges of the times.

From Food, Clothing, and Shelter to Innovation, Life Value, and Urban Community – Declaring a Paradigm Shift
In the subsequent vision presentation, Executive Director Lee Hyeong-gu revealed the philosophical foundation and core strategies of UCH. Director Lee expanded the traditional values of "Food, Clothing, and Shelter" into a new framework for modern cities: Innovation, Value, and Eco-System. To realize this, he proclaimed the 3R Movement: Resilience, Region, and Renovation.

Directly addressing the reality that "60% of local governments in Korea are at risk of extinction, the suicide rate is the highest in the OECD, and life satisfaction ranks 33rd out of 38 countries," Director Lee diagnosed that while urbanization and capitalization have improved the "standard of living," they have collapsed the "quality of life," community, and local ecosystems. He emphasized, "Starting with community change at the local level, we will create a community system that serves as a model for all of Korea and the world," and unveiled an organic operating system consisting of three strategic pillars (Leading Innovation, Activating Community, and Fostering Local Creators) and six specialized centers.

In particular, he proclaimed the vision of a "Sustainable city created together by citizens, where everyone grows happily," and presented a four-stage path for citizens to grow from participants and learners into policy producers and experts, enabling them to move beyond being beneficiaries to becoming subjects of policy.

Innovation, ESG, and Global Connectivity – A Blueprint Completed by Three Presentations
Following the vision presentation, three thematic presentations were delivered:

Kang Byung-sun, former President of the Innovation Management Association, spoke on "Regarding Innovation - Centering on Urban Community Innovation." He defined the essence of urban community innovation as "the process in which local residents recover their agency, rediscover the value of space, and connect more closely through technology."
Son Ho-cheol, an adjunct professor of International Business at the Catholic University of Korea and Director of UCH, presented "ESG Online Disclosure Platform: Leading the ESG Paradigm Shift." Professor Sohn surveyed the discourse on sustainability from the 1972 Club of Rome report to the EU CSRD and IFRS ISSB, asserting that "ESG is no longer just a 'good company' campaign but a condition for capital procurement and survival." He introduced Korea's ESG disclosure roadmap (starting Stage 1 in 2028) and proposed that an AI-based online disclosure platform should become a new infrastructure for regional innovation.
Ji Tae-yong, Chairman of the Overseas Koreans Settlement Support Council, presented the "K-Global City" concept, a plan to connect overseas Korean networks scattered worldwide into cultural hubs. This proposal directly aligns with UCH's global expansion strategy—including global innovation networks and media cooperation with the Korea Times Chicago—showing that regional innovation can be connected on a global scale.

The Future Envisioned by UCH – "From Local to National, From National to Global"
This forum was the first official stage for the Urban Community Headquarters to announce its vision and core projects since establishing its legal framework as a non-profit corporation. With encouragement from science elders, a keynote rooted in urban construction experience, and three thematic presentations on innovation, ESG, and global networks, the outline of UCH as a "Sustainable Innovation Platform Healed by People" was solidified.

Executive Director Lee Hyeong-gu stated, "Today is the beginning of the Urban Community Headquarters and the first step in a movement where citizens change the city. We will steadfastly promote the 3R Movement—Resilience, Region, and Renovation—so that this movement starting in Sejong can spread to all regions of Korea and become a model for urban communities worldwide."

[ About the Urban Community Headquarters (UCH) ]

The Urban Community Headquarters is a non-profit corporation authorized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, established for the voluntary participation of citizens to create sustainable cities. Based on a philosophical framework that expands traditional "Food, Clothing, and Shelter" into Innovation, Life Value, and Urban Eco-Systems, it pursues the recovery of cities and communities, regional growth, and innovation in lifestyles through the 3R Movement. It operates six centers: the Urban Innovation Research Institute, Media & Content Center, Regional Community Activation Center, Consulting & Network Center, Maker Space Center, and Educational Innovation Center. It cooperates with domestic and international organizations such as GINI Korea Global Innovation Network, Korea Times Chicago, and The Plus Korea.

Website: www.ucc.or.kr
Phone: 070-4870-2818
Email: info@ucc.or.kr
Address: 1161 Yeoncheong-ro, Bugang-myeon, Sejong City