목, 2020년 10월 08일 - 18:00
From left, Einar Hebogard Jensen, ambassador of Denmark to Korea, and Yangyi Won-young, lawmaker of the Democratic Party,
speak about Denmark and Korea’s renewable energy policies at the Danish diplomatic residence in central Seoul on July 28. [PARK SANG-MOON]
Being seen and being active are what Rep. Yangyi Won-young of the Democratic Party, newly elected this year, has been doing for the past 25 years as an environmental activist.
“Three months ago this time, I received a phone call. The situation on the ground didn’t look good. A civic movement we had helped build in Yeongdeok County [in North Gyeongsang] against nuclear energy was being pulled apart,” begins Yangyi’s post on her Facebook account on Dec. 2, 2015. “My husband was just learning the ropes in his new position at work and our 4-year-old daughter needed all the attention we could give her. But I had no choice but to travel again. Activism is not something you can win with empty words.”
Her days and nights spent with locals and other activists, in their makeshift demonstration tents or rallying on the streets with placards, are recorded in such posts and photos on her social media accounts. And those days are not behind her.
Yangyi, one of the drafters of President Moon Jae-in’s energy transition plan, is gathering forces again. This time, the backdrop is the National Assembly.
“We have Assembly members interested in looking into possible offshore wind energy development in their regions, including Rep. Kim Won-i of Mokpo, Rep. Seo Sam-seok of Sinan County, and Rep. Lee Kai-ho of Yeonggwang County, all in South Jeolla,” Yangyi said. “We’re getting to work on the ground to see how much support there is from the people.”