2 PM on the 1st at Nurimaru APEC House, "A World Without War: Strategies for Global Peace and Cooperation" Theme
CNN, M?decins Sans Fronti?res, Writer Cha In-pyo, and Cultural Arts Figures Gather to Discuss Peace and Cooperation Strategies
Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Global City Foundation will hold the ‘2024 Busan World Peace Forum,’ where experts from various fields will participate to explore cooperation measures and share visions regarding global issues facing humanity.
This forum is one of the flagship projects of ‘Busan UN Week,’ which Busan, home to the world’s only UN Memorial Cemetery, launched to establish itself as an ‘International Peace City.’ It is a global forum held annually since 2020.
Hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the Busan Global City Foundation, ‘Busan UN Week’ promotes Busan as the ‘World Peace Hub City’ by holding various UN-related events over approximately three weeks, starting from United Nations Day (October 24), a global international commemorative day, to the International Veterans Remembrance Day (November 11, Turn Toward Busan).
Marking its 5th year, this year’s forum will be held on the 1st at Nurimaru APEC House under the theme ‘A World Without War: Strategies for Global Peace and Cooperation.’
Notably, this year marks the inaugural year of Busan as a ‘Global Hub City.’ As Busan leaps forward as a ‘World Peace Hub City,’ this forum holds even greater significance as it provides a platform for citizens to discuss solidarity and cooperation within the international community and to explore Busan’s role and new urban competitiveness as a ‘Global Peace Platform.’
The ‘World Peace Forum’ will proceed in the order of Mayor Park Hyung-jun’s opening remarks (video), a congratulatory message from Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (video), congratulatory remarks from Hong Kyung-wan, President of Busan Catholic University, a special dialogue, a keynote lecture, and a special broadcast.
In the first session, the ‘Special Dialogue,’ the speakers include ▲ Jang Je-guk, President of Dongseo University and member of the city’s Honorary Consul Corps ▲ Mike Valerio, an eight-time Emmy Award-winning CNN Asia-Pacific correspondent ▲ Jesa Pontevedra, Head of Medical Field Operations at M?decins Sans Fronti?res, who oversees medical support in various conflict zones. They will engage in an in-depth discussion on the theme ‘In the Hyperconnected Era, Our Efforts for Future Cooperation and a Better World Order.’
Mike Valerio is a seasoned American journalist who produced the documentary series ‘Fallen and Forgotten,’ which deals with the remains of American World War II veterans buried in the Tarawa Atoll.
The ‘Special Dialogue’ will be moderated by Jeon Yong-woo, CEO of the Busan Global City Foundation, a key private diplomacy institution leading Busan’s globalization efforts.
Following this, the ‘Keynote Lecture’ will feature writer Cha In-pyo (author of If We Ever Looked at the Same Star), focusing on the recently spotlighted keyword ‘K-Literature.’ Through ‘Literature Reflecting Our Lives and Times,’ the session will provide an opportunity to understand the concept and importance of peace.
The final session, the ‘Special Broadcast,’ will vividly convey messages about the importance of peace to citizens through diverse voices from various fields, including singer Kim Jo-han and Wan Yi-hwa, a singer of Myanmar refugee origin.
The English Broadcasting Department of the Busan Global City Foundation will host a ‘Peace Talk & Concert’ featuring BeFM (Busan English FM) hosts and special guests under the theme ‘Busan, the City of Peace,’ linked with K-content. This event aims to broadly communicate the value of peace and the necessity of international solidarity to future generations.
Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs at the UN, emphasized, “On behalf of the United Nations, I thank Busan City for hosting the ‘World Peace Forum.’ The ‘Busan World Peace Forum’ is a timely and meaningful occasion that highlights the importance of global peace and cooperation.” She added, “We must reaffirm our commitment to ending the horrors of war through the UN’s fundamental principles of peace promotion and international cooperation. The world and Northeast Asia need a platform for dialogue and cooperation.”
Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “As a city that rose from the experience of war, Busan is doing its utmost to spread the value of peace and contribute to world peace.” He added, “As Busan advances as a ‘World Peace Hub City’ and establishes itself as a ‘Global Hub City,’ we will strive to achieve deeper international cooperation and solidarity.” He also asked for support and encouragement.
The forum is free and open to all citizens, and the ‘Special Dialogue’ will be broadcast live on the Busan English Broadcasting YouTube channel with simultaneous Korean and English interpretation.
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