1. An international seminar themed “Korea in the New Arctic Age” will take place at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) on July 1 in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Arctic Council.

2. At the seminar, Second Vice Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul will deliver welcoming remarks and US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Mark Lippert a congratulatory message. At the event, Arctic experts from home and abroad will deliver presentations and engage in discussions on various agenda items, including the “State of the Arctic 2016”; “Opportunities in the Arctic”; and “In Search of Korea’s Future Role.”

3. The event will be hosted by the Foreign Ministry and bring together as guest speakers not only Arctic-related academics and business figures from the ROK but also prominent figures from such member states of the Arctic Council as the US, Iceland and Finland.

4. The seminar is expected to serve as a significant opportunity to review the main achievements of the Arctic Council over the past twenty years and to seek ways for the ROK and other non-Arctic countries to contribute to the development of the “new frontier” amid cooperation growing between Arctic and non-Arctic countries.

° In particular, at the event, the ROK, which is increasing Arctic-related activities as part of efforts to implement its Eurasia Initiative, will inform the other participants of its Arctic policy and discuss with them ways to work together in that regard.


* unofficial translation