Watch the Highlights Video
On September 17, leaders from across Korea gathered at the Plaza Hotel in Seoul for K-Partnership Connect, an event hosted by the World Bank’s Korea Green Growth Trust Fund celebrating how Korean institutions are helping solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. More than 110 participants from 46 organizations joined, including Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-Water), Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI), Seoul Urban Solutions Agency (SUSA), National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT), National Information Society Agency (NIA), and Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH). Together, they reflected the breadth of Korean expertise across agriculture, digital development, energy, environment, transport, urban solutions, and water that is shaping global green growth.
Korea’s Knowledge, Global Impact
From water management to smart cities, Korea has become a laboratory of solutions for sustainable development. Through the World Bank and the Korea Green Growth Trust Fund (KGGTF), this expertise is being adapted and applied in countries worldwide. Opening the event, Hyoung Gun Wang, KGGTF Program Manager at the World Bank Group, emphasized the mission: “KGGTF is not just about funding projects but about building meaningful partnerships that turn knowledge into action.” His remarks set the stage for an afternoon of storytelling, dialogue, and connection.
Stories of Collaboration
The Partner Spotlights – Stories of Collaboration segment unfolded in sequence, with speakers from water, environment, urban development, energy, and forestry sharing how their organizations are contributing solutions to global challenges.
Water
General Manager Jongyoung Kim of K-Water shared Korea’s growing role in international water cooperation, highlighting efforts in knowledge sharing, capacity building, and customized solutions.
Environment
Director Kyoung Che Lee from the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute (KEITI) outlined KEITI’s contributions in solid waste management, inclusive sanitation, and wastewater management.
Urban Development and Transport
From the Seoul Urban Solutions Agency (SUSA), Principal Specialist Eunhee Roh reflected on how Seoul’s urban development strategies have been adapted for global benefit, including urban planning, mobility, environmental management, and e-government.
Energy
Researcher Hanna Kang from the National Institute of Green Technology (NIGT) underscored the importance of joint efforts in accelerating technology transfer and scaling up climate technologies. She noted collaborations such as developing economically viable tariff structures for battery energy storage system dispatch.
Agriculture and Forestry
Finally, Team Leader Kikang Bae from the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) presented the critical role of forestry in sustainable development and climate resilience. She highlighted the green landscape resilience project in Mongolia, which developed investment plans for key biodiversity, tourism, and natural resource management interventions with carbon finance potential.
Together, these stories illustrated how Korea’s knowledge and innovation are being shared with the world, turning homegrown expertise into global solutions that advance sustainability and resilience.
The Spotlights concluded with a joint Q&A session moderated by Wang, which encouraged interaction among speakers and participants. Questions ranged from financing mechanisms to strategies for engaging with client governments, underlining the appetite for more concrete pathways to collaboration. This session offered technical guidance for Korean institutions on maximizing impact and alignment, while highlighting the flexibility of the process.
After a short networking coffee break, the mood shifted to a lighter, celebratory atmosphere. The Connect & Celebrate session featured interactive quizzes, surprise introductions, and small giveaways. These moments of levity allowed participants to connect more informally, and many commented on how valuable it was to meet colleagues from different sectors.