From Medellín to Incheon: Students Share Local Life and Eco-Habits
- IVECA Center
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
IVECA students from Colombia and South Korea participated in Live Class this week, joining from opposite sides of the world on June 12 to take part in a session that brought their two-month collaboration to life. Under the theme “Our City and Our Habits: Welcome to Our City!”, students from Medellín and Incheon explored and compared their hometowns, daily habits, and shared values. The virtual meeting gave students a chance to present their findings, celebrate common ground, and reflect on life in different parts of the world.
South Korean students presented key landmarks in their cities, such as Cheongna Lake Park, Central Park in Songdo, and the Shrimp Tower in Soraepogu Port. As one group noted, their town “is known for a modern style hotel called ‘Inspire,’” which includes a stadium and a waterpark where visitors go mostly to relax. Another team proudly highlighted Rodeo Street as “the most famous and festive place in our town,” filled with cafes and restaurants where locals gather to socialize.
Students from Colombia offered a vibrant portrait of Medellín. From the colorful street art of Comuna 13 and bold sculptures in Plaza Botero to the exciting nightlife of Provenza. Students painted the city's cultural richness and resilience through detailed presentations. “Medellín is a very popular city in Colombia,” one group explained, “characterized by its technological innovation, commitment to the environment, and its surprising social transformation.”
One of the most inspiring aspects of the exchange was the shared commitment to environmental awareness and sustainable daily habits. Korean students introduced actionable everyday practices such as using reusable containers for food delivery, turning off unused lights to save energy, and “plogging”—a combination of jogging and picking up litter, which they described as a simple and fun way to exercise while protecting the environment. Colombian students echoed these values, emphasizing recycling, using public transportation to reduce pollution, and cleaning up their surroundings. They also stressed the importance of respecting flora and fauna by using water wisely and ensuring that garbage is properly disposed of.
Despite the physical distance between them, students expressed genuine curiosity about each other’s cities and a desire to meet in person one day. As one Korean team shared, “We hope you can visit our town someday, so you can experience the unique lifestyles and cultures of our towns in Incheon, Korea.” Likewise, their Colombian peers warmly invited them to Medellín, saying, “Come visit Medellín, we’ll be waiting for you with open arms to get to know all that Medellín has to offer.”
The session embodied IVECA’s mission to connect students globally through meaningful, cross-cultural exchange, sharing their shared vision of sustainable, connected living. As the Korean school principal noted, “Your projects showed that even though we live in different cities and countries, we all care about the same things — our planet, our future, and each other.”
