Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Holds 'Forum' to Attract World Island Expo

Discussion on Sustainable Development Directions for Islands and Preparation Strategies for the Necessity of Hosting the 'Island Expo'

Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry held the '2020 Southwest Coast Island Forum' to attract the 2028 World Island Expo. (Photo by Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Ki-dong] The Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Chairman Lee Han-cheol) held the '2020 Southwestern Coast Island Forum' on the 16th at the Mokpo Citizen Culture and Sports Center under the theme 'Why Island Expo? The Beginning of a New Challenge' to attract the 2028 World Island Expo.

According to the Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, about 100 people attended the forum, including the mayors and county heads of Mokpo City, Wando County, Jindo County, and Sinan County?regions of the Southwestern Coast Island Belt that signed a business agreement last month for the joint attraction of the 2028 World Island Expo?as well as the chairpersons of the four city and county councils, local provincial assembly members, and the World Island Expo Attraction Promotion Preparation Committee.

The forum, prepared to spread consensus among local residents for attracting the island expo as a future win-win project for the Southwestern Coast region, featured opening remarks by Mokpo Mayor Kim Jong-sik, Wando County Head Shin Woo-cheol, Jindo County Head Lee Dong-jin, and Sinan County Head Park Woo-ryang, followed by thematic presentations and discussions involving experts related to island and international events.

In the thematic presentations, Park Sang-woo, a research fellow at the Korea Maritime Institute, spoke on 'Sustainable Development Directions for Islands,' emphasizing the need to shift the paradigm of island and fishing village development policies based on the current status and conditions of island regions. Choi Kyung-eun, a research fellow at the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, presented on 'The Necessity and Preparation Strategies for Hosting the Island Expo,' discussing the value and importance of islands as well as the significance and direction of hosting the island expo.

The subsequent comprehensive discussion was chaired by Shin Soon-ho, chairman of the Korea Global Island Foundation, with participants including Professor Kang Bong-ryong (Department of History, Mokpo National University), Professor Yoon Seung-hyun (Department of Convention and Hotel Management, Hannam University), Research Fellow Lee Je-yeon (Korea Institute of Local Administration), and Research Fellow Jo Sang-pil (Gwangju Jeonnam Research Institute). They exchanged opinions on the necessity of establishing specialized island support institutions and pre-event boom-up strategies for attracting international events.

Mayor Kim Jong-sik stated, "If the mid- to long-term vision of attracting an international event in 2028 and an Expo recognized by the International Bureau of Expositions around 2040 is realized, it will be an opportunity for the rebirth of islands." He added, "Together with the Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local governments of the Southwestern Coast, we will create a groundbreaking turning point for the development of the Southwestern Coast."

Lee Han-cheol, chairman of the Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "The development plans for islands and international event preparation strategies discussed at this forum will be continuously realized through cooperation with local governments of the Southwestern Coast," adding, "We plan to regularize the forum starting next year."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.