Jeju Diver and Tokyo Rooftop Beekeepers Win 1995-Established Environmental Prize
Extreme heat waves and winter cold snaps have become a part of daily life, making climate action an urgent international priority that transcends borders, according to an environmental awards report published by chosun.com. The Korea-Japan International Environmental Prize—jointly established in 1995 by Chosun Ilbo and Mainichi Shimbun—has recognized 23 individuals and 42 organizations across South Korea, Japan, and China for dedicated conservation efforts.
This year’s South Korean laureate, Lee Yu-jung, works as a haenyeo, who spends her working hours retrieving trash and pollutants from the coastal waters around Jeju Island. Across the sea, the Japanese recipient known as the Ginza Honeybee Project has operated since 2006, maintaining beehives on a building rooftop in Tokyo’s Ginza district to contribute to environmental conservation. Both recipients demonstrate that environmental protection functions best as a daily habit rather than an empty political slogan.
Decades of Newspaper Conservation Campaigns
Alongside the prize administration, the founding media organizations have sustained long-running public awareness campaigns in their respective countries. Chosun Ilbo has historically run public drives urging citizens to “Let’s reduce garbage” and “Let’s save our tributaries,” while Mainichi Shimbun has championed similar cultural concepts like “Mottainai”—which discourages waste—and initiatives aimed at the ecological restoration of Mount Fuji. Both publishing companies intend for these sustained educational efforts to generate lasting, positive shifts in public environmental attitudes.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Environmental Prize
When was the Korea-Japan International Environmental Prize established?
The award was established in 1995 through a joint initiative by South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo and Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun.
How many honorees have received the award since its inception?
The program has recognized a total of 23 individuals and 42 organizations across South Korea, Japan, and China.
What specific work does the 2006 Ginza Honeybee Project perform?
The project maintains beehives on top of a building in Tokyo’s Ginza district to contribute to environmental conservation.
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