At a press conference marking the first official vegan movement in the country, the Jeju Province Assembly’s Green Growth Institute on Climate Change joined representatives from 49 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to declare plans to become organic vegan one day a week to curb climate change.

Reading Declaration for “Organic Vegan One Day a Week”, South Korea (M):We shall adopt “Being organic vegan one day a week” in this NGO Agreement,and expand it to a whole provincial movement.

VOICE: The declaration, which received great media attention, came in response to the recommendation to eat less meat, made by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chairperson, Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri.

Oh Ok-Man – Executive secretary, Jeju Provincial Assembly’s Green Growth Institute on Climate Change, South Korea (F): We hope this will be the starting point of Jeju’s action spreading throughout all the island’s citizenship and be an opportunity for Jeju to establish itself as a green developed city.

VOICE: With a population of 500,000, the island of Jeju province in South Korea is known for her pristine nature and strong social leadership, having been the first to advocate eco-friendly organic school meals province-wide.

The one-day-a-week organic vegan initiative already had a head start in some schools, with results of improved children’s health and behavior.

Jeon In-Soo – Jeju Ecology Nurturing Association, South Korea (F): Already more than half of the early childhood centers have been vegetarian (vegan) once a week on their own.

VOICE: The Jeju Coalition for Children’s Health and other provincial NGOs will practice being organic vegan once a week starting this December, and soon after will promote organic vegan meal programs in all schools.

Oh Jeong-Sook – Manager of Parliamentary Affairs, Jeju Provincial Assembly, South Korea (F): I felt the importance of this kind of diet for children.

VOICE: After the declaration ceremony, participants and many attending journalists enjoyed a delicious buffet catered by Loving Hut, the international vegan restaurant begun by Supreme Master Ching Hai to advocate this nutritious and compassionate lifestyle.

Kang Deok-Hwan – Policy Advisor, Jeju Provincial Assembly, South Korea (M): I am actually surprised that it’s not meat.

Moon Chun-Shim – Bravo early childhood center staff, Jeju, South Korea (F): We were worried at first about the taste of excluding meat, but it is really delicious. Tastes even better than meat dishes.

VOICE: What wonderful news! Congratulations Jeju Province, South Korea and many thanks to the organizers of this wise move on behalf of your children, citizens, and the environment.
May yours be a shining example for a healthy, sustainable South Korea and beyond!