Key facts
- Dr. Chang Gwang-chol, representing North Korea, was unable to participate in the Jeju Forum.
- The 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity is underway on Jeju Island.
- The forum's theme is 'Reinventing Cooperation in a Fragmented World'.
- Discussions will cover peace, security, economic and climate transitions, and digital governance.
- Candidates for the U.N. Secretary-General position are participating in a session.
The 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity commenced on South Korea's Jeju Island, focusing on enhancing global cooperation amidst heightened geopolitical challenges. The forum, themed 'Reinventing Cooperation in a Fragmented World,' is scheduled to run for three days and will feature approximately 70 sessions with international officials and experts.
North Korea's representative, Dr. Chang Gwang-chol, was unable to participate in the forum due to an unspecified issue. The forum's agenda includes discussions on peace and security in an era of strategic competition, economic and climate transitions, and digital governance, including challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
A notable session will bring together candidates vying to succeed U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, including former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet (joining virtually), IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, and Ecuador's former Foreign Minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces.
Other discussions will involve former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris, former South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook, and former Japanese National Security Secretariat Secretary-General Shigeru Kitamura on East Asian security. Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, and former Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar are also slated to participate in a World Leaders' Session.
This year marks the first time the forum is co-hosted by the Jeju provincial government and South Korea's foreign ministry, an effort to elevate its international standing.