By Honorary Reporter Sunaina Khan from Pakistan
Photos = Coolimate 

Climate change is a global crisis, with 2025 set to be one of the hottest years on record. Extreme weather, including devastating floods in Korea last summer, underscores the urgent need for action. While Korea has made climate commitments, real-world progress lags, prompting local youth to lead initiatives that raise awareness and build climate resilience.

Two young activists are stepping up efforts to fight climate change. Kim Soyun and Lucy (Seoyun) Kim, cofounders of Coolimate, a Korea-based climate group, seek to amplify youth voices in both domestic and global climate advocacy.

The following are excerpts from an email interview with them from June 16 to July 30.

Kim So-yun (left) and Lucy (Seoyun) Kim are the cofounders of Coolimate.

Briefly introduce yourselves.
Kim Soyun: I am the CEO of Coolimate, a youth-led climate organization I established with Lucy Kim. With a master's in education development cooperation and experience in environmental education projects in Africa, I focus on advancing climate justice through community-based education. Having participated in multiple U.N. climate change conferences, I aim to create platforms where youth and children can engage in meaningful climate discussions.

Lucy Kim: I am a cofounder of Coolimate, youth climate activist and educator. I design and deliver climate education programs for high school students in Korea, helping them analyze climate data and manage climate-related emotions. With a background in Scandinavian and international studies, I will soon pursue a master's in human ecology in Sweden. At Coolimate, I focus on international communication and strategic partnerships, working to connect youth-led climate initiatives across borders.

What inspired you to take initiative on climate change?
Kim Soyun: I have always been interested in climate change issues, but my involvement was limited to personal actions and participating in outreach programs run by major organizations. My deeper engagement with climate action began at the 2022 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Egypt, where I volunteered for environmental initiatives and connected with global youth activists. I later helped implement a climate education project in Madagascar. These experiences led me to organize LCOY (Local Conference of Youth) Korea 2025, representing Korean youth at the national level.

What have been key projects of Coolimate?
Both: Coolimate works across domestic, national and global levels to strengthen climate education and youth engagement. In Korea, we run extracurricular programs for high school students, helping them learn climate science, analyze data and other things.

At the national level, we organized LCOY Korea 2025, bringing together over 140 youth to draft a national youth statement to shape Korea's NDC 3.0 (Nationally Determined Contribution), or the country's third official climate action plan submitted to the U.N. and carbon neutrality policies.

Globally, we partnered with Malagasy NGOs to launch the Climada Project, developing climate curricula, teaching materials and teacher training in use at Madagascar's primary schools.

Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) 2025 Korea.

Teacher training workshop under Climada project

What are your plans?
Both: We aim to focus on establishing LCOY Korea into a lasting platform that amplifies youth voices in climate action and expand its recognition and impact. On the international front, we will continue advocating at U.N. climate change conferences to Korea's NDC 3.0 implementation and push for stronger emission cuts, fostering a culture of youth leadership in tackling the climate crisis.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.