'2021 Pyeongchang Peace Forum' Closes... Sharing "Legacy of the Peace Olympics"

35 Sessions, 213 Domestic and International Speakers Participate... Leading Issues on the Korean Peninsula and Global Peace

2021 Pyeongchang Peace Forum Peace Ceremony [Provided by Gangwon Province]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] The '2021 PyeongChang Peace Forum (PPF)' held in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, concluded on the 9th after a 3-day, 2-night journey.

This year's forum, conducted both online and offline through a dedicated online platform, broadcast a total of 35 sessions. During the event, the online platform was visited by over 170,000 people, and more than 70,000 participated via the YouTube channel.

Additionally, 213 speakers (68 from the National Assembly, 145 domestic) delivered presentations and engaged in discussions. The forum was particularly praised for hosting diverse discussions on peace through the online platform.

At this forum, peace experts from around the world gathered to revive the 'PyeongChang Peace Spirit' and shared opinions on advancing the peace process on the Korean Peninsula and international cooperation.

Under the theme of 'Peace New Deal,' various discussions were held across five fields: economy, sports, DMZ peace zone, UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), and public diplomacy, culminating in the adoption of a resolution.

Governments, international organizations, and global civil society groups urged participation in concrete and practical actions to establish a peace system on the Korean Peninsula.

The resolution includes content aimed at building a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, originating from PyeongChang, the host city of the 2018 Winter Olympics and the birthplace of the Korean Peninsula peace process.

It was decided to seek international support so that the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games will continue the 'Peace Olympic Spirit' of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and serve as an opportunity to ease tensions and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula.

In this regard, the 2021 PyeongChang Peace Forum held various discussions through sports sessions, special sessions, and talk concerts to ensure the successful and peaceful hosting of the 2024 Gangwon Games.

Jang Hong, co-chair of the forum and chair of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2024 Gangwon Games, expressed expectations for the successful hosting of the event, stating, "The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games will be a great opportunity to strengthen the legacy of peace."

On the closing day, an awards ceremony was held for the 'PyeongChang Youth Peace Challenge (YPC) 2021,' aimed at fostering awareness and leadership on peace among the future peace generation, the youth.

Fourteen works submitted by youth worldwide?covering essays, speeches, posters, and videos featuring experiences, episodes, ideas, and visions?were selected, and after final judging, 10 winning teams were chosen.

Outstanding works reflecting the peaceful imagination of youth were exhibited both online and offline during the forum. This year’s contest expanded its target globally, attracting 238 participants from 41 countries.

The 2018 PyeongChang Foundation and Yunus Sports Hub also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue the Olympic legacy.

Both parties agreed to cooperate in developing the legacy of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games to create a more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable society domestically and internationally through sports and social business.

At the closing ceremony, participants agreed that discussions on peace must not stop despite the COVID-19 pandemic and pledged to realize the Peace New Deal for peace on the Korean Peninsula and worldwide.

They also expressed hope that the 2022 PyeongChang Peace Forum would be held after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and promised to meet again.

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