1. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will attend the Davos Forum, the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s annual meeting, to be held in Davos, Switzerland, on January 24-25.

o This year’s Davos Forum will consist of about 400 open and closed sessions, to be held under the theme “creating a shared future in a fractured world” from January 23 to 26. Around 3,000 people will participate in the sessions to discuss the sharing of the benefits of globalization, sustainable development, and how to achieve inclusive growth.

※ The upcoming Davos Forum is expected to be the largest one ever to be attended by about 70 highest-level officials of countries and international organizations, including US President Trump, French President Macron, UK Prime Minister May, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, and Indian Prime Minister Modi, as well as about 1,900 people from economic circles.

2. On January 24, Minister Kang, together with the leaders and senior officials of countries around the world, will attend a closed debate session titled “overcoming a lack of resources: new approach to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” to be chaired by Norwegian Prime Minister Solberg. In the session, Minister Kang will discuss ways to mobilize resources to achieve the SDGs, the international community’s shared development goals.

o On January 25, Minister Kang will attend a closed luncheon debate, where about 100 key participants in the forum, including the King of Belgium, the Presidents of Poland and Colombia, and WEF Executive Chairman Schwab, will discuss the theme of this year’s Davos Forum, “creating a shared future in a fractured world.” In the debate session, Minister Kang will explain what the ROK government’s “people-centered economy” for inclusive growth is.

o Minister Kang will also invite key media leaders participating in the forum to a meeting to be held under the theme “current situation on the Korean Peninsula and the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.”

3. At the upcoming Davos Forum, Minister Kang will especially attend open and closed sessions on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and explain the ROK government’s position on the situation on the Korean Peninsula with a focus on the peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue.

o On the morning of January 25, Minister Kang, together with Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School Ashton Carter (former US Secretary of Defense) and China Foreign Affairs University Professor Su Ge, will attend an open panel discussion titled “strategic geography: Korean Peninsula” as a panelist. In the afternoon, Minister Kang will attend a closed session titled “establishing a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.” In the session, she will explain the ROK government’s efforts to establish peace, and engage in an in-depth exchange of views with other participants.

4. On the evening of January 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will co-host the “Korean PyeongChang Night” to promote the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics among high-level officials and businessmen from countries around the world at the forum.

o The event is expected to inform them of what preparations the ROK is making to host a successful Olympics, and to promote the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games as a peace Olympics through keynote remarks by Foreign Minister Kang, a presentation on the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and celebratory performances.

5. Minister Kang’s participation in the Davos Forum is expected to serve as an opportunity to enhance the international community’s understanding of the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, and to promote the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games among people around the world. It is also expected to become a good opportunity to share with the international community the ROK government’s “people-centered” economy and positions in other areas, including development and security.

* unofficial translation