- Event to be held on October 8–9 at Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center, with some 700 experts from Korea and abroad, including professors Pier Luigi Sacco and Andy Pratt

- In-depth discussions on sustainable international cooperation in the cultural and creative industries through 4 thematic sessions and 10 partner programs

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST), together with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (President PARK Chang-sik, KOFICE), Gyeongsangbuk-do Province (Governor LEE Cheol-woo), and Gyeongju City (Mayor JOO Nak-young), will host the “World Gyeongju Forum 2026” from October 8 (Thursday) to 9 (Friday) at the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO). Minister CHAE will attend the opening event at 1:30 p.m. on October 8 to welcome participants.

The forum is designed to discuss ways to advance sustainable international cooperation in the cultural and creative industries, building on the outcomes of the “2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju” and the “High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries.” Under the theme “An Era of Global Transition, Shared Prosperity and Growth Led by Culture,” this year’s forum will feature 4 thematic sessions—“Cultural & Creative Industries · Youth,” “Local & Global,” “Digital · AI,” and “History & Culture”—along with 10 partner programs.

October 8 Opening Ceremony to Feature Keynote Addresses by International Experts and a Special Dialogue

At the opening ceremony (October 8), world-renowned scholars and industry practitioners will present a blueprint for culture-led shared prosperity. First, Pier Luigi Sacco, Professor at Gabriele d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara in Italy and an architect of the European Union’s cultural policy, and Andy Pratt, UNESCO Chair in Global Creative Economy and Emeritus Professor at City St George’s, University of London in the United Kingdom, will deliver keynote addresses on “Korea’s Rise as a Strategic Leader in a Multipolar Global Cultural and Creative Ecosystem: Prospects and Challenges” and “The Potential for Socio-Cultural Development and Shared Economic Prosperity through Linking Culture and the Cultural and Creative Industries, and Related Policy Challenges,” respectively. The keynote speakers will then be joined by President KIM Yoon-ji of the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and Jieun Kiaer, Director of the Oxford Centre for Korean Studies at the University of Oxford in the U.K., for a special dialogue to discuss priorities for international cooperation to achieve shared prosperity.

In-Depth Discussions Across 4 Thematic Sessions—Including Cultural & Creative Industries and History & Culture—and 10 Partner Programs

On October 9, four session forums will be held to present practical approaches to promoting shared prosperity in key areas. In the morning, the “Cultural & Creative Industries · Youth” session will feature participants including Jason Bevan, former Head of Creative Development at Warner Bros. Pictures, to discuss ways to achieve shared growth through talent exchange. Meanwhile, in the “Local & Global” session, speakers including Korean history instructor CHOI Tae-sung will give presentations and participate in discussions on global branding strategies for regional historical and cultural assets.

In the afternoon, the “Digital · AI” session will feature participants including Professor LEE Kyo-gu of Seoul National University, who will discuss how to design systems that enable creators, industries, and institutional frameworks to coexist in the artificial intelligence (AI) era, while in the “History & Culture” session, participants including Professor Andy Pratt will discuss the sustainable future that living heritage can help create.

From October 8 to 9, special forums and partner programs hosted by government agencies, international organizations, universities, and others will also take place. A wide array of programs, including the “3rd Meeting of the FEALAC Culture Cities Network” (FEALAC: Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation), hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Gyeongju City, the “APEC 1st Anniversary Seminar,” and the “ASEAN-Korea Sustainable Innovation Program” (ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations), will welcome participants.

Diverse Side Events, Including a Robotics Exhibition, Traditional Tea Culture Experiences, and Special Performances

A variety of side events for participants will also be held during the forum. Participants can enjoy a wide range of cultural programs, including a robotics exhibition under the theme “Coexistence of Humans and Technology,” a traditional tea culture event, and special performances (“Gwangdae” and “Arirang”) prepared by the Gyeongsangbuk-do Culture and Tourism Organization.

The “World Gyeongju Forum” is open to all, and more detailed information is available on the official website (wgjforum.kr).

Minister CHAE stated, “Gyeongju is a city with a thousand-year history and the historic site of last year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, at which ‘culture’ was declared a key economic driver for leading humanity toward a sustainable future.” He added, “I hope the ‘World Gyeongju Forum’ will develop concrete action plans to implement the ‘APEC Leaders’ Gyeongju Declaration’ and become a new milestone for shared prosperity, bringing together culture and industry, as well as nations and generations.”