- 8th Arctic Partnership Week (December 10th-12th) to be hosted at the International Passenger Terminal, Busan Port -

 

 

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (Minister Cho Seung Hwan) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minister Park Jin) will be hosting Artic Partnership Week at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center for three days from December 10th (Sunday) to 12th (Tuesday).

 

 

 Arctic Partnership Week is an international forum that has been held since 2006 to expand international cooperation in various fields, including Arctic-related policies, scientific research, and industry, with attendance by around 1,000 individuals, including government officials, ambassadors of Arctic countries in Korea, experts from home and abroad, and the public.

 

 

 This year’s event will be held under the theme “Great Transition: Navigating New Arctic,” with dedicated sub-themes for each of the three days: ▲ Communication Day (Sunday, December 10th), ▲ Knowledge Day (Monday, December 11th), and ▲ Sustainability Day (Tuesday, December 12th), where outstanding issues and measures for cooperation are to be discussed for the respective fields. The public is also invited to attend their programs of interest to listen to the presentations or participate in the discussions.

 

 

 As this year marks the 10th anniversary of Korea’s status as an observer state in the Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum that discusses issues around the Arctic Circle, the Ministry plans to provide an overview of Korea’s Arctic-related activities for the past decade and its future vision during the opening ceremony on the first day. Following the opening ceremony, Korea will discuss ideas with other observer states, including Japan, China, and India, on how to expand their role within the Arctic Council.

 

 

 The second day will offer various sessions to explore collaborative ideas on polar research, including the Arctic Science Cooperation Seminar, hosted together with international organizations such as the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) and the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), to identify solutions and responses to international issues and challenges by leveraging shared knowledge.

 

 

 On the third day, the conference will explore new possibilities in year-round operation of Arctic shipping routes to ensure sustainable development, while providing a time for exchanges between the businesses of Korea and Arctic countries.