The Incheon Port Authority announced that the 6th Incheon International Ocean Forum (Incheon International Ocean Forum 2025), co-hosted by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Incheon Metropolitan City, and co-organized by the Incheon Port Authority and Yonhap News Agency, opened on July 3.

This event, the largest marine business forum in the Seoul National Capital Area, will take place from July 3 to 4 at the Songdo Convention Center (123 Central Road, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon) under the theme “A Turbulent Global Economy and the Resurgence of the Marine Industry.”

The opening ceremony began with an opening address by Cho Myung-woo, chairman of the forum committee, followed by welcome speeches by Kim Sung-beom, vice minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries; Yoo Jung-bok, mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City; and Lee Kyung-kyu, president of the Incheon Port Authority. This was followed by congratulatory speeches by Hwang Dae-il, President of Yonhap News Agency, and Jung Il-young, Member of the National Assembly (Yeonsu-eul), and a podium button touch ceremony symbolically expressed the aspirations for the challenges and rejuvenation of the marine industry amid the rapidly changing global economy.

The keynote speech was delivered by Jeremy Rifkin, author of “Planet Aqua” and a world-renowned futurist, who participated in a live online speech and delivered an in-depth message on the theme of “Life and the Future of the Ocean in Planet Aqua, and the Role of Ports and Shipping.” The main sessions began at 1:30 PM.

The first session, “Shipping and Logistics,” was moderated by Song Sang-hwa, Dean of the Northeast Asia Logistics Graduate School at Incheon National University, who discussed the practical possibilities for linking industry and policy in relation to “Smart Shipping and Logistics and the Resilience of Global Supply Chains.”

The second session, “Marine Environment and Climate,” held at the same time, was moderated by Lee Ki-taek, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology, who highlighted the potential connection between marine ecological value and carbon neutrality strategies under the theme of “Sustainable Marine Industry through Arctic Route Development and Blue Carbon.”

The third session, “Marine Energy,” began at 3:30 p.m. and was moderated by Professor Woo-Bum Oh of Inha University's Department of Marine Science, who led an in-depth discussion on the digital transformation of marine energy and the revitalization of regional marine industry ecosystems at the intersection of technology and policy.

At the same time, in the special session “The Future of Marine Cities,” Park Hee-yoon, Head of the Development Division at HDC Hyundai Development Company, presented on the topic “Global Competitiveness of Cities, Tokyo's Great Transformation, and Incheon,” proposing a global strategy through the harmonization of urban regeneration and port functions, and sharing insights on sustainable urban development.

In addition to the regular sessions, the forum featured a variety of side events. Notably, the “Marine Industry Introduction and Career Counseling Booth” provided practical information to young people interested in the marine industry and offered a valuable opportunity for future talent to connect with the industry. The event was participated by 13 marine-related public institutions under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and Incheon City, which broadly introduced the current status and future prospects of the marine industry.

Additionally, on the same day at 1:30 PM, an “Incheon Regional Logistics Industry Talk Concert” was held. Organized by the Incheon Regional Human Resources Development Committee, the concert was divided into two parts: Session 1: Starting a Career in Logistics and Session 2: The Path to Sustainability and Technology. It provided participants aspiring to enter the logistics industry with a deeper understanding of the industry as a whole and offered meaningful guidance on career directions for sustainable logistics professionals.

On the following day, July 4, regular sessions on the themes of “Marine Tourism” and “Smart Ports” are scheduled to take place.

For more detailed information about the 6th Incheon International Marine Forum, please visit the official website.

[News Source: Incheon Port Authority]