1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-hosted a roundtable with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on July 14 (Mon) to promote and deepen discussions between the government and domestic experts in preparation for the 2025 World Emerging Security Forum (WESF), scheduled to be held on September 8 (Mon), 2025.

※ The World Emerging Security Forum has been organized annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2021 to actively contribute to the international community’s efforts to address emerging security threats, bringing together experts from government, the private sector, and academia.

2. The roundtable, held under the theme “The Evolution of Hybrid Threats and International Security,” brought together over 200 participants, including Ambassador for International Cyber Affairs Lee Taewoo, Director of the KAIST Institute for Security Convergence Research Bae Joongmyeon, and Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Dan Smith, as well as experts from various sectors.

3. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Lee emphasized that today's security threats are increasingly characterized by “hybrid threats”—a complex mix of military and non-military threats, physical and digital attacks, and actions by both state and non-state actors.

He noted that:

- Hybrid threats now manifest in the form of cognitive warfare aimed at controlling perceptions,

- Hybrid threats significantly transform the nature of warfare through the use of technologies such as AI and drones, and

- Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure cause large-scale economic losses and social disruption.

4. He stressed the urgent need for international cooperation to respond to such threats and highlighted Korea’s leadership in global initiatives, including:

- Contributing to UN resolutions on “new and emerging digital technologies and human rights" and "artificial intelligence in the military domain,"

- Hosting the 2nd REAIM Summit (Responsible AI in the Military domain) in September 2024,

- Active participation in bilateral cyber cooperation with 13 countries and multilateral bodies like the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on ICTs, and

- The announcement of the ROK’s national position on the application of international law in cyberspace on July 7, underscoring Korea’s leading role in shaping cyber norms.

5. In Session 1, participants discussed the current state of hybrid threats, including:

- Definitions and emerging trends of hybrid threats,

- The impact of new technologies such as AI and drones on warfare,

- Cognitive warfare, and

- Forecasts regarding cyberattack patterns.

Experts stressed the importance of developing systematic indicators to measure threat levels and build more concrete and structured responses.

6. Session 2 focused on hybrid threats and changes in international security. Discussions highlighted:

- The diversification of threat actors and the expansion of means of attack,

- The lack of international norms, and

- The increasing complexity and multi-dimensional nature of security threats.

Participants emphasized the necessity of establishing international norms and governance frameworks and called for an all-of-society approach involving government, businesses, academia, and civil society. There was broad agreement on the need for greater public awareness and resilience-building to effectively respond to hybrid threats.

7. This roundtable served as a reaffirmation of the importance of establishing a domestic network that brings together the collective intelligence and capabilities of the public, private, and academic sectors to address hybrid threats, which are fundamentally transforming the nature of international security.

8. Based on discussions from the event, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to host the 2025 World Emerging Security Forum on September 8, bringing together stakeholders from government, international organizations, businesses, and academia to seek collaborative responses to hybrid threats.

※ Further details about the 2025 WESF will be released on the official website: https://wesforum.or.kr