Global Korea Forum 2025
Global Korea Forum 2025: Fostering Peace, Cooperation, and Sustainable Development on the Korean Peninsula
photo credit: Global Korea Forum 2025 Secretariat
The Global Korea Forum 2025 addressed democracy, peace, inter-Korean relations, and sustainable cooperation in agriculture and forestry, with civil society playing a central role.
The Forum took place in Seoul on September 18 and 19.
The main topics on September 18 were the current challenges facing democracy and peaceful coexistence in general. Regarding the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, participants discussed the challenges posed by these issues. They also explored possible ways to restore greater exchange between the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), as well as expectations for the DPRK during Donald Trump’s second presidential term.
Prof. Dr. Seliger, Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Korea, spoke about how inter-Korean relations have changed, particularly since the war between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. With support from the Russian Federation and the resulting international attention, the DPRK currently finds itself in what the regime views as a comfortable position. Under these circumstances, patience is required, as a potential opportunity for cooperation could arise once relations between the Russian Federation and the DPRK weaken.
On September 19, the Forum focused on reconciliation and cooperation. Presentations addressed, for example, how not only bilateral but also multilateral partnerships can contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula, and how international organizations, alongside state institutions, can play an important role in the reconciliation process.
To conclude the Global Korea Forum 2025, Dr. Choi, Senior Researcher at the Hanns Seidel Foundation, emphasized that the DPRK’s food and forestry crisis requires a shift away from short-term aid toward sustainable, step-by-step cooperation. In this process, civil society plays a key role in fostering self-reliance, resilience, and Korean coexistence.
