During the past decades, the island city of Jeju, through considerable multi- sectoral efforts, has grown to be a shining example of an environmental hub model. The origin of Jeju’s growth as a global environmental hub can be traced primarily to two major characteristics: 1. The willingness of the people of Jeju to share their island’s vibrant cultural heritage and unique natural beauty with the rest of the world, and 2. The tireless endeavors of Jeju Special Self-GoverningProvince to manage Jeju’s environment, and share its environmental best practices to urban centers across the world. These endeavors are expressed as the principal of policy that conservation is prior to development. In order to achieve its goal of a World Environmental Hub status, Jeju Special Self- Governing Province is promoting 1) institutional strategies, 2) supplementation of its existing master plan, and 3) restructuration of existing social system. The first includes the promotion of this project on a joint base with IUCN and the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, establishment of head office of world environmental hub promotion in Jeju Governmental organization, and enactment of world environmental hub special law by the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. The second is considering collaborations with the members of IUCN commissions, domestic experts, and consultants who will be recruited from overseas. The third is for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the master plan through the restructuring of exiting socio-economic system to a new one focusing on maximizing the eco-efficiency and environ- mentally friendly behavior.

• Muthusami Kumaran, Ph.D.(Assistant Professor, Department of Family, Youth & Community Sciences, University of Florida, USA)
• Dai-yeun Jeong, Ph.D.(Emeritus Professor of Environmental Sociology, Jeju National UniversityDirector, Asia Climate Change Education Center)