1. The “Arctic Circle Korea Forum,” co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Arctic Circle Secretariat, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Polar Research Institute, and the Korea Maritime Institute, took place at the Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul, from December 7 to 8.

o The forum brought together about 250 people, including government officials from Arctic countries, as well as representatives from Arctic-related companies and research institutes in the Republic of Korea and abroad. Among the participants were Chairman of the Arctic Circle Olafur Ragnar Grimsson (former President of the Republic of Iceland) and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

2. In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Arctic Circle Grimsson said that the Arctic Circle Forum would serve as an opportunity for participants from governments, companies, research institutes, and NGOs to freely exchange views. He went on to say that the awareness that the threat to the Arctic posed by climate change is a threat to the world was being shared with Asian countries, including the ROK.

o Chairman of the Arctic Circle Grimsson also said that the forum would become a good opportunity to discuss the future of the Arctic together from new perspectives.

3. In his congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that responding to climate change in the Arctic region and achieving sustainable development goals were very urgent global issues that all countries around the world should work together on. He also said that more meaningful results would be able to come out of the forum, if Arctic countries and stakeholders cooperate on and discuss a range of Arctic issues.

4. In his welcome remarks at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Yun Kang-hyeon said that the Arctic Circle Korea Forum would become a forum for open dialogues where Arctic issues can be discussed from Asian perspectives. He also stressed the value of inclusiveness being pursued by the ROK government, and said that the ROK, as the Arctic’s reliable partner, would continue efforts to grow together with Arctic countries.

5. In his congratulatory remarks at the opening ceremony, head of the Marine Environment Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Song Myeong-dal said that the ROK government established a basic plan to facilitate activities in the Arctic for 2018-2022, and that the ROK, as a country that opens the future of the Arctic, would continue to make contributions by increasing mutually-beneficial economic cooperation with the Arctic region; building partnerships as a responsible country; and promoting research activities to address common tasks for humanity.

6. As the ROK hosted the Arctic Circle’s regional forum, called the “Arctic Davos forum,” for the first time in Northeast Asia, the forum served as an opportunity to establish a foundation for the ROK to participate more actively in discussions on sustainable development of the Arctic.

o In the session on Arctic science, held on December 7, experts made presentations and engaged in discussions on the impact of climate change on the Arctic and the world, as well as new issues and challenges facing the Arctic region. In the session on Arctic innovation, participants discussed innovative ways to promote sustainable development of the Arctic in the areas of shipbuilding, shipping, technology, and education.

o On December 8, government representatives and experts from the ROK, the People’s Republic of China, and Japan exchanged views on Arctic policies and the way forward for cooperation with Arctic countries from Asian perspectives.

- In addition, Iceland, the next chair of the Arctic Council, and other Arctic countries, as well as government representatives and experts from the Arctic Council observers from Europe, including the EU and the Republic of Poland, discussed the way forward for international cooperation on Arctic issues.

- Besides, participants visited the Korea Polar Research Institute, which operates icebreaking research vessels and research stations in Antarctica and the Arctic, and raised their awareness of the substantive contribution the ROK is making in responding to Arctic issues, including climate change and environmental conservation, through scientific research and international cooperation.

7. Furthermore, the “Arctic Partnership Week” will be held under the theme “Cooperation & Innovation for Arctic Future” in conjunction with the forum at BEXCO in Busan from December 10 till 14.

* unofficial translation