Pocheon City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Baek Younghyeon) announced on September 23 that preparations for the '2025 Hantan River and Gwangneung Forest International Forum,' set to open on October 16, are progressing smoothly amid strong interest from both domestic and international experts and citizens, with the event now just about a month away.
◆ The Fruit of Collaboration Among Five Local Governments: An International Platform for Geoparks and Biosphere Reserves
This forum has been organized to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the designation of the Hantan River National Geopark and to promote its value widely. Notably, it is co-hosted by five local governments-Gyeonggi Province, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, Pocheon City, Yeoncheon County, and Cheorwon County-which jointly manage the Hantan River UNESCO Global Geopark and the Gwangneung Forest Biosphere Reserve. This marks the first forum in Korea to bring together both a geopark and a biosphere reserve.
The event is expected to open a new chapter in international exchange among UNESCO protected areas, with hundreds of participants, including over 200 experts and citizens from eight Asian countries.
Kim Seongnam, Chair of the International Forum Organizing Committee and a member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, said, "We are looking forward to holding the event in the Hantan River and Gwangneung Forest, both managed under UNESCO conservation programs," adding, "I hope it will be a successful event that brings together local residents."
◆ A Rich Program Bridging Experts and the Public
Under the slogan "Learn and Enjoy UNESCO Global Geoparks and Biosphere Reserves!", the forum will feature a diverse range of programs that combine both expertise and public appeal.
The keynote speeches will be delivered by Ryuzaburo Furukawa, Mayor of Shimabara City in Japan, and Kim Jaehyun, a professor at Konkuk University and former head of the Korea Forest Service, who will share in-depth insights. In addition, a talk concert hosted by Lim Youngseok, Director of the Korea National Arboretum, and Moon Kyungsoo, a natural heritage specialist at the National Heritage Administration, will present the value of UNESCO protected areas in an engaging and accessible way for the general public.
Other highlights include an international academic seminar divided into three sessions, a large-scale hands-on experience event involving 25 organizations, and site visits to the scenic spots of the Hantan River and Gwangneung Forest, all of which will take place over four days.
For more information about the forum, inquiries can be made through the official website or via email.
Meanwhile, the '2025 Hantan River and Gwangneung Forest International Forum' will be held over four days from October 16 to 19 at the Hantan River Ecological Landscape Complex in Pocheon City.
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