Gyeongju to host 2026 World Forum on culture-led shared prosperity on Oct 8-9
In short
South Korea's culture ministry will hold the 2026 World Gyeongju Forum at the Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju on Oct 8-9, under the theme “shared prosperity and shared growth led by culture in a time of global transition.” The ministry said the event follows up on last year's Gyeongju APEC summit and high-level culture industry dialogue, with four sub-sessions, special sessions and eight cooperation programmes. Culture minister Choe Hwi-young is due to welcome participants at the Oct 8 opening ceremony.
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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will hold the 2026 World Gyeongju Forum on Oct 8-9 at the Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju, together with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongju City. The ministry said the forum is based on the results of last year's Gyeongju APEC summit and its high-level dialogue on the culture industry, and aims to discuss sustainable international cooperation in cultural and creative industries. Seoul Shinmun reported the same dates and described the event as continuing APEC's international cooperation results. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The theme is “shared prosperity and shared growth led by culture in a time of global transition.” According to the ministry, the programme consists of four sub-sessions — cultural and creative industries and youth, region and world, digital and artificial intelligence, and history and culture — as well as special sessions and eight cooperation programmes. The ministry said culture minister Choe Hwi-young will attend the opening event at 1:30 pm on Oct 8 and welcome participants. [ 2 , 3 ]
At the Oct 8 opening, Pier Luigi Sacco of Italy's University of G. d'Annunzio Chieti-Pescara is to give a keynote on Korea's emergence as a strategic leader in a multipolar global cultural and creative ecosystem, and Andy Pratt, emeritus professor at City St George's, University of London, on the potential for social and cultural development and economic shared prosperity through linking culture and the cultural and creative industries, the ministry said. Kim Yun-ji, president of the Korea Creative Content Agency, and Cho Ji-eun, director of Oxford's Korean Studies Centre, are to join the keynote speakers in a special dialogue on international cooperation tasks, according to the ministry. [ 2 , 3 ]
On Oct 9, the four sub-sessions are to discuss implementation. In the morning, the cultural and creative industries and youth session is to include Jason Bevan, former head of development at Warner Bros. Pictures, on shared growth through talent exchange, while the region and world session is to feature Korean history lecturer Choi Tae-sung on turning local historical and cultural assets into international brands, the ministry said. In the afternoon, the digital and AI session is to include Seoul National University professor Lee Kyo-gu on coexistence of creators, industry and institutions, and the history and culture session is to include Pratt on living heritage and a sustainable future. [ 2 , 3 ]
Special sessions and cooperation programmes hosted by government bodies, international organisations and universities are also scheduled over the two days. These include the third FEALAC culture city network meeting hosted by the foreign ministry and Gyeongju City, an APEC first-anniversary seminar and a Korea-ASEAN sustainable innovation programme, the ministry said. Accompanying events include a robotics exhibition on the coexistence of humans and technology, a traditional tea culture event and a special performance prepared by the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization. [ 2 , 3 ]
The ministry said the forum is open to anyone and that details are available on its official website. Minister Choe said Gyeongju is a city with a thousand years of history and the site of last year's APEC summit, which declared culture a core economic driver for humanity's sustainable future, adding that he expects the forum to produce concrete implementation measures for the Gyeongju Declaration and set what he called a new milestone for shared prosperity spanning culture and industry, countries and generations. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The forum is presented by the ministry and the Yonhap report as a follow-up to the Gyeongju Declaration made at last year's APEC summit in the city, which declared culture a core economic driver. It is intended to turn that declaration into what the ministry calls concrete implementation measures in the cultural and creative industries. Discussions on digital and AI, regional branding and youth talent exchange indicate the scope covers both policy and industry cooperation.
Key facts
- The 2026 World Gyeongju Forum will be held on Oct 8-9 at the Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO) in Gyeongju, according to the culture ministry. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The forum is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism together with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongju City. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Its theme is “shared prosperity and shared growth led by culture in a time of global transition,” the ministry said. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The programme includes four sub-sessions — cultural and creative industries and youth, region and world, digital and AI, and history and culture — plus special sessions, and eight cooperation programmes. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Culture minister Choe Hwi-young is scheduled to attend the opening event at 1:30 pm on Oct 8 and welcome participants. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry said the forum is based on the results of last year's Gyeongju APEC summit and its high-level dialogue on the culture industry. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Side events include the third FEALAC culture city network meeting hosted by the foreign ministry and Gyeongju City, an APEC first-anniversary seminar and a Korea-ASEAN sustainable innovation programme. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The ministry said anyone may attend the forum, with details on its official website. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The forum will take place on Oct 8-9 at HICO in Gyeongju. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- It is organised by the culture ministry with the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeongju City. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The theme is “shared prosperity and shared growth led by culture in a time of global transition.” [ 2 , 3 ]
- The programme comprises four sub-sessions, special sessions and eight cooperation programmes. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The event is described as building on last year's Gyeongju APEC summit and culture industry high-level dialogue. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Culture minister Choe Hwi-young is expected to attend the opening ceremony. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- What concrete agreements or outcomes the forum is expected to produce. The documents describe the agenda and speakers but state no expected deliverables or signing of agreements.
- How many participants will attend and which organisations have confirmed attendance. Only a partial list of named speakers is given; no attendance figures are provided.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Seoul Shinmun first reports that the World Gyeongju Forum will be held on Oct 8-9, continuing APEC international cooperation results. [ 1 ]
- Asia Economy publishes the ministry's programme details, including sessions, speakers and side events. [ 2 ]
- Yonhap reports the culture ministry's announcement of the forum. [ 3 ]
- Opening ceremony is scheduled, with minister Choe Hwi-young due to welcome participants. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Four sub-session discussions on implementation are scheduled, including panels on cultural and creative industries and youth, region and world, digital and AI, and history and culture. [ 2 , 3 ]