Busan has been selected as the host city in Korea for the 4th U.N. Ocean Conference in 2028.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said this was decided at the second meeting of the "4th U.N. Ocean Conference host city selection committee" (hereinafter the selection committee) held in Seoul on the afternoon of the 10th.
Chairperson Choi Dong-ju of the selection committee said, "Busan Metropolitan City was highly rated for its strong alignment with the purpose of the U.N. Ocean Conference, as it is Korea's representative maritime city with concentrated maritime industry, research, and education infrastructure."
At the U.N. General Assembly in Dec. last year, Korea was chosen as the host country for the 2028 U.N. Ocean Conference. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) conducted an open call among metropolitan governments with jurisdiction over maritime cities to select the domestic host city.
The U.N. Ocean Conference is the largest and highest-level international meeting in the maritime field, held every three years to implement "U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 14" for the conservation and sustainable use of marine environments and resources.
About 20,000 participants from 193 U.N. member states, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations are expected to attend to discuss current issues in the maritime field.
The host city will be finalized soon after a resolution by the preparatory committee for the 4th U.N. Ocean Conference, chaired by the prime minister, and this will be reflected in the "modalities resolution" expected to be adopted at the U.N. General Assembly at the end of this year.
During the screening, Busan Metropolitan City and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province competed. The selection committee resolved to recommend that Jeju, which was eliminated this time, host some advance and special events linked to the U.N. Ocean Conference next year and in 2028.
Minister Hwang Jong-woo of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) said, "Going forward, we will work closely with Busan Metropolitan City and relevant agencies to thoroughly prepare for a successful conference that showcases Korea's maritime capabilities to the world and leads international cooperation for a sustainable ocean."