BUSAN — Highlighting the fresh perspectives of the younger generation, the city of Busan hosted the 2026 Junior Ocean Conference on November 14 at the KNN Newsroom and Public Hall in Haeundae-gu.

Co-hosted by the Busan Metropolitan City Government and the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education, and organized by the Maritime Capital Federation, the event brought together 71 middle and high school students from across the region. The conference served as the culmination of weeks of intensive field research, mentoring, and collaborative project preparation.

The journey began in September through a competitive selection process organized by the city’s Office of Education. Following an official kick-off ceremony on October 3, the participating students embarked on hands-on explorations of local academic and research hubs on October 17, visiting marine-related departments and facilities at Pusan National University, Pukyong National University, and Korea Maritime & Maritime University.

During these visits, students engaged directly with university experts and researchers, gaining deep insights into marine industries, cutting-edge technologies, and local marine environments. Armed with professional mentorship and firsthand field reporting, the nine participating teams spent weeks brainstorming, researching, and debating to formulate their own visions for Busan's maritime future.

At the main conference, the student teams showcased their findings using creative multimedia presentations, including short-form Reels videos and detailed PowerPoint briefings. Their proposals offered innovative ideas and practical pathways for Busan to cement its status as a global ocean capital. A panel of judges evaluated the presentations and honored outstanding teams for their exceptional research and delivery.

Sim Jae-min, Director-General of Busan’s Maritime Capital Strategy Bureau, praised the initiative and the students' dedication. "This conference is meaningful because it allows our youth to experience marine research and education environments firsthand and to shape Busan's maritime future through their own creative lenses," he stated. "We remain committed to expanding participatory programs so that young people can discover new horizons in the ocean and grow into tomorrow’s marine leaders."

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