“Seeking Justice at the Intersection of the Climate Crisis and Resource Development”
Alliance for Resource & Climate Justice Center (ARC) Officially Launches
“ARC to spearhead research on energy transition, critical minerals, and biofuels”
“Hyelyn Kim appointed as Executive Director; Jungdo Kim as Director”
“The Center aims to pioneer climate alternatives, starting from Jeju Island”
The Alliance for Resource & Climate Justice Center (ARC), a dedicated body for climate research and policy advocacy, has officially launched. The organization is committed to addressing the climate crisis through the framework of climate and resource justice.
Based in Jeju Island, ARC’s mission is to conduct in-depth analyses of human rights and environmental issues in regions most vulnerable to the climate crisis, both domestically and internationally. A primary focus will be investigating the social conflicts and structural challenges that arise during the phase-out of thermal power and the broader transition to renewable energy.
Furthermore, ARC will scrutinize the human rights and environmental impacts of large-scale resource development—a sector rapidly expanding due to the global shift toward advanced industries. By elevating grassroots voices to international platforms, the Center intends to propose actionable policy alternatives that encompass both terrestrial and maritime justice.
The leadership team brings together seasoned experts with a proven track record:
Executive Director Hyelyn Kim: A researcher focusing on global supply chain ethics, with extensive work on the human rights and environmental impacts of Korean companies in the palm oil and nickel industries across Indonesia.
Director Jungdo Kim: A field-based environmental policy expert with 14 years of experience in coal phase-out, renewable energy transition, and the protection of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Senior Researcher Shinyoung Chung: A U.S.-licensed attorney recognized for her legal advocacy and research for marginalized groups, including refugees and Indigenous peoples, focusing on the intersection of human rights and environmental protection.
“As geopolitical instability grows, the climate crisis is intensifying—particularly in Jeju, the front line of this crisis on the Korean Peninsula,” said Executive Director Hyelyn Kim. “To adress this, it is essential to cancel plans for new gas power plants, phase out existing thermal power, and expand renewable energy through a framework of public interest.”
She added, “Our goal is to ensure Jeju is not merely seen as an ‘island in crisis,’ but rather as a ‘hub of alternatives’ that leads the way in solving the global climate emergency. ARC will dedicate its full research and organizational capacity to this vision.”
Moving forward, the Alliance for Resource & Climate Justice Center plans to foster solidarity within the Jeju community while strengthening international networks to realize a truly just transition for resources and the climate.