Nakdong River Council, Forum Established for Sustainable Development Discussion

Successful Conclusion of the 2024 Nakdong River Council Conference

The Nakdong River Council (Chairman Na Dong-yeon) successfully concluded the ‘2024 Nakdong River Council Conference’ held on November 27 at Lotte Hotel & Resort Gimhae, Gyeongnam (1st floor Grand Ballroom).

Nakdong River Council Conference. Provided by Yangsan City

This conference was held under the theme of ‘Discussion on the Joint Prosperity and Sustainable Development Plan of the Nakdong River Council,’ with over 120 participants including mayors and district heads affiliated with the Nakdong River Council, related organizations and groups, as well as experts.

As the second event held one year after the first conference in Yangsan last year, it was an occasion to reaffirm the continuous cooperation and development of the Nakdong River Council.

In particular, holding the event in Gimhae, the center of Gaya culture, added special significance to discussing history, nature, and future visions.

Opening the conference, Chairman Na Dong-yeon emphasized the importance of the Nakdong River, stating, “The Nakdong River should play an important role beyond simply being a resource, providing leisure and cultural spaces for local residents and enhancing their quality of life.” He added, “I am very honored that through this conference, we have laid the foundation for cooperation to maximize the potential of the Nakdong River and achieve sustainable development.”

The keynote speech was delivered by Kim Jae-won, Director of the Gimhae Research Institute, who presented development strategies utilizing the historical and cultural assets of the Nakdong River under the theme ‘Rising Nakdong, Great Nakdong,’ receiving great acclaim. Following this, Professor Kwon Jang-wook of Dongseo University gave a presentation on ‘Strategic Choices to Strengthen the Competitiveness of the Nakdong River Estuary as a Tourist Destination,’ and Professor Jeong Su-ho of Inje University spoke on ‘Plans to Revitalize Lifelong Sports Utilizing the Nakdong Riverbanks.’

In the second session, under the moderation of Professor Yang Wi-joo of Pukyong National University, Professor Shin Seok-min of Gyeongnam National University and Kim Tae-young, Director of the Future Strategy Office at the Gyeongnam Research Institute, participated in a discussion sharing diverse opinions. Various measures were proposed to transform the Nakdong River from a mere natural resource into a cultural, tourism, and sports hub, with an emphasis on cooperation among local governments and resident participation.

Chairman Na Dong-yeon stated, “Based on the discussions at this conference, we plan to activate the cultural tourism industry in the Nakdong River basin and establish concrete action plans for the development of local communities.” He added, “We will continue to strengthen cooperation among the six local governments affiliated with the council to achieve sustainable development.”

The Nakdong River Council is a consultative body composed of six basic local governments in the Nakdong River basin (Gimhae City, Yangsan City, Buk-gu Busan, Sasang-gu, Gangseo-gu, and Saha-gu), promoting various activities aimed at the sustainable development and joint prosperity of the Nakdong River basin.