Icheon City to Host 'Icheon Seohee Policy Forum' on the 18th

'Seohee's Negotiation Diplomacy and South Korea's Diplomatic Strategy in the 21st Century' Topic

Gyeonggi-do Icheon City will hold the '2024 Icheon Seohi Policy Forum' on the 18th at the Small Theater of Icheon Art Hall.

The 'Icheon Seohi Policy Forum' is held to commemorate the achievements and spirit of Jang Wi-gong Seohi, a diplomat from the Goryeo Dynasty who was born in Icheon. The forum is hosted by Icheon City and jointly organized by the Icheon Cultural Foundation and the Icheon City Seohi Seonsaeng Seonyang Project Promotion Committee.

This year, the forum will be held under the theme of 'Seohi's Negotiation Diplomacy and South Korea's Diplomatic Strategy in the 21st Century.' At the forum, Kim Sook, Executive Director of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation and former UN Ambassador and Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiation Headquarters, will attend as the keynote speaker and deliver a speech titled 'Seohi and South Korea's Diplomatic Strategy in the 21st Century.'

Following this, experts in diplomacy and security will participate to discuss Seohi's analysis of international affairs, the significance of diplomatic negotiation skills, and the proper diplomatic direction South Korea should pursue. The panel will be chaired by Jang Cheol-gyun, representative of the Seohi Diplomacy Forum and former Ambassador to Switzerland, with presentations by Jeong Hae-eun, Senior Researcher at the Academy of Korean Studies; Lee In-su, Director of the Icheon Cultural Center's Icheon Studies Institute; Park In-sik, Director of the KCJ Institute of International Relations; and Cho Kyung-hwan, Adjunct Professor at Sungkyunkwan University.

Before the event, Seobokrye, a Korean painter who is a National Exhibition invited artist and a descendant of the Icheon Seo clan, will present a large-scale calligraphy and painting performance specializing in the city tree of Icheon, the 'Pine Tree.'

Seohi was a diplomat during the reign of King Seongjong, the 6th ruler of Goryeo. When the Khitan invaded, he negotiated directly with the enemy commander Soson-nyeong, leading to the withdrawal of the Khitan forces and the expansion of the territory by developing the Gangdong Six Prefectures in present-day North Pyongan Province. In 2009, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade selected Seohi as the first figure to illuminate Korean diplomacy and unveiled his bust at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy. In 2022, the reception hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul was named 'Seohi Hall' in his honor.

Kim Kyung-hee, Mayor of Icheon City, said, "Seohi is not just a historical figure but a precious asset who inspires and gives hope to our people living in the 21st century and the youth growing up today." She added, "We hope this forum will be an opportunity for Icheon City to stand tall as a leading city representing South Korea's diplomatic and security culture, and we look forward to much interest and participation."