Park Chunghyu and Will Aronson to Speak at the International Gyeongju History and Culture Forum

International Gyeongju History and Culture Forum Runs for Three Days Until September 21

Park Chunghyu and Will Aronson, the writers behind the Tony Award-winning musical "Maybe Happy Ending," which won six awards, will deliver the keynote address at the "2025 International Gyeongju History and Culture Forum" held in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do on September 19. Park Chunghyu and Will Aronson plan to explore the process of different cultures and languages coming together, framing it as a story of "connection" and "innovation."

The 2025 International Gyeongju History and Culture Forum is an event organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the city of Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. It will take place over three days until September 21 in the area around the Gyeongju Arts Center.

The theme of the forum is "Looking at the Stars on the Path of a Millennium." The event is designed as a space for speakers and citizens to communicate around the core agenda of "connection, innovation, and prosperity," which will also be a key topic at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held in Gyeongju in October. Participants will experience the value of the humanities in everyday life and explore sustainable futures and human happiness.

On the first day, following Park Chunghyu and Will Aronson, Professor Joseph Henrich from the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University will speak on September 20, explaining from an anthropological perspective how cultural evolution drives the development of human societies. Masahiro Yamada, a sociology professor at Chuo University in Japan, will discuss the potential for sustainable communities by focusing on changes in Japanese society and human relationships, emphasizing the importance of understanding and cooperation. Poet Park Jun and feminist scholar Jung Heejin will address the theme of "connection," presenting the value of life from a humanities perspective by exploring empathy through emotional exchanges between people and introducing new discourse on the socially disadvantaged in a polarized society.

On the final day, September 21, Professor Kim Sangwook from the Department of Physics at Kyung Hee University will examine and question, from scientific and historical perspectives, whether technological innovation necessarily leads to human prosperity. Diane Enns, a professor of philosophy at Toronto Metropolitan University, will philosophically examine isolation and loneliness in modern society and explore ways to restore relationships with one another.

During the event, a variety of activities will be held at the Fountain Plaza for all citizens to enjoy. During the day, a "Book Festival" will take place under the theme "Books, Encounters with Everyday Life." Local bookstores and publishers from Gyeongju will participate in a book market, along with performances, live radio shows, and eco-friendly bag and keychain-making activities, offering various ways to enjoy and experience books. In the evening, writers Ko Myunghwan, Seo Kyungseok, Lee Jiyoung, and Bong Taegyu will be invited as speakers, providing an opportunity for the public to easily engage with the value of the humanities in everyday life. At the Alcheon Art Museum in the Gyeongju Arts Center, works by four masters of modern and contemporary Korean art-Lee Jungseop, Park Sookeun, Kim Whanki, and Jang Wookjin-will be exhibited.

Admission tickets for the lectures, which operate on a pre-reservation basis, can be purchased through the Gyeongju Cultural Foundation website or Ticket Link. Tickets can be exchanged for books by the speakers, and additional benefits such as exhibition admission are provided to those who reserve in advance. The Book Festival at the Fountain Plaza is free of charge.

Lee Jeongmi, Director of Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "This event is a meaningful opportunity to share wisdom on the challenges facing humanity through the language of culture, history, and philosophy," adding, "The Ministry will continue to promote the value of culture, arts, and the humanities to enrich the everyday lives of our people."