Goyang-si to Host the 5th World Urban Forum on the 22nd at Kintex

Held under the theme "Strengthening Cities and Sustaining the Future: Innovation and Solidarity"

Promotional text for the 5th World Cities Forum 2024.

Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) announced on the 8th that it will hold the "5th World Cities Forum 2024" at KINTEX on the 22nd.

This forum is hosted by Goyang Special City and organized by the World Cities Forum Organizing Committee, with support from the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), ICLEI Korea Office, the Korean Society of Land and Urban Planning, Dongguk University, Korea Aerospace University, Joongbu University, and Gyeonggi Tourism Organization.

The World Cities Forum originated from the "Goyang Urban Forum," launched in 2019 to assess Goyang City's policies and suggest directions. In 2023, it was renamed the "World Cities Forum" and has since evolved into a global policy platform where major cities worldwide share common challenges and seek solutions.

The 5th World Cities Forum, held this year, will be conducted under the theme "Strengthening Cities, Sustaining the Future: Innovation and Solidarity," featuring a keynote speech, a special session (Global Summit), and two thematic sessions.

The keynote speeches will be delivered by Alan Mallach, a senior researcher and urban planning expert at the U.S. nonprofit Community Progress, and Professor Sam Richards from the Department of Sociology at Pennsylvania State University, USA. They will passionately discuss "Conditions for Sustainable Cities Amid Change and Crisis."

In the special session, key figures and experts from international organizations, including the Mayor of Goyang Special City, the Secretary-General of ICLEI, the representative of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Northeast Asia Office, and the newly appointed Ambassador of Sweden to Korea, will discuss "Solidarity and Cooperation Strategies for Sustainable Cities."

Meanwhile, the two thematic sessions will focus on "Cities and Future Technologies (AI)" and "Cities and Environment." Presentations and panel discussions will be led by domestic and international experts such as Professor Fernando Vilarino, former president of the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL); Damien Kopp, Director of REBOOTUP PTE. LTD in Singapore; Bruno Goncalves Lara from the Curitiba Urban Planning Institute (IPPUC) in Brazil; and Park Hyung-geon, Vice President of Capture6 Korea.

Additionally, the 5th World Cities Forum this year will feature various programs, including a Climate Tech Experience Center and AI Experience Center (featuring facial recognition AI-created music, AI character sticker photos, and an AI-based child art psychological diagnosis platform), a citizen AI utilization workshop, and academic seminars in collaboration with local universities, attracting significant attention from attendees.

Citizens wishing to attend this free forum can pre-register on the World Cities Forum website, with on-site registration also available on the day of the event. Furthermore, anyone can participate in real-time via YouTube live streaming.

For detailed programs, speaker introductions, and other inquiries, please visit the World Cities Forum website.