Held from Nov. 3 to 5 at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center (BPEX)… Under the theme "Ocean, Connect," the forum seeks to connect countries and industries, technology and people through the ocean, and explore new possibilities for cooperation.

The City of Busan (Mayor Jeon Jae-soo) announced that it will host the "2026 World Ocean Forum (WOF 2026)" for three days starting tomorrow, November 3, at the conference hall on the 5th floor of the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center (BPEX).

Marking its 20th anniversary this year, the World Ocean Forum is an international event where domestic and international marine experts, scholars, and corporate CEOs gather to discuss major issues in the global marine industry and explore future development directions.

Co-hosted by the City of Busan, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Busan Ilbo, and organized by the Korea Maritime Industry Association (KMIA), the forum is expected to draw around 3,000 domestic and international marine experts.

This year’s forum, themed "Ocean, Connect," aims to link nations, industries, technology, and people through the ocean while exploring new avenues of cooperation.

Amid rapidly changing international environments—including climate change, the restructuring of maritime order, and advanced technological developments—the forum will broadly cover key agendas of the future ocean economy, such as Arctic routes, digital transformation in the marine industry, eco-friendly energy, and international maritime governance.

It also plans to discuss the development direction and role of Busan as a maritime city.

The opening ceremony will take place at 3:00 PM on November 3, featuring welcoming remarks by Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo and Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo, alongside opening and congratulatory remarks from key figures.

This will be followed by a congratulatory address by Julian Barbiere, Head of Marine Policy and Regional Coordination at UNESCO, and keynote speeches by Alastair Bonnett, Professor of Social Geography at Newcastle University, Great Britain, and Dr. Kim Ji-yoon, a political science doctor.

Professor Alastair Bonnett will examine international trends surrounding climate change, marine development, and resource competition, highlighting human connectivity and the importance of international cooperation in sharing a single ocean.

Dr. Kim Ji-yoon will examine changes in U.S. maritime policy and security strategy, as well as the reorganization of the international maritime order, exploring possibilities for cooperation amidst unstable international situations.

During the forum period, various sessions will be operated under themes such as Arctic routes, artificial intelligence (AI), green energy, the ocean economy, and international maritime governance.

Programs for international cooperation and future talent cultivation will also be held, including a session by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (UNESCO IOC), an OECD-related session, and a youth hackathon.

In particular, the city will hold a special session from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on November 4 under the theme "Completing the Maritime Capital Busan - Connecting National Strategies."

Through this special session, the city plans to examine the completion of Busan as a maritime capital in connection with national-level strategies, and discuss Busan's development direction to respond to changes in the global ocean economy.

Various side events will also be operated at the venue, including corporate booth exhibitions, an ocean library, and virtual reality (VR) experiences.

Through programs that allow youths and citizens to experience the ocean up close and explore the future of the marine industry, the city plans to raise interest and understanding regarding the ocean.

Mayor Jeon Jae-soo stated, "The World Ocean Forum is an important international platform to jointly discuss global changes and the future surrounding the ocean and to find new paths of cooperation," adding, "Through this forum, Busan will strengthen its role as a maritime capital connecting the world and discover future growth engines for the marine industry."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]