25th World Korea Forum at ITU

ITU hosted the 25th World Korea Forum, which offers a global perspective on the advancement of peace and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula and focuses on the search for a new global order, on August 14-15.

Istanbul Technical University (ITU) continues to host important international events in 2024, which it declared the Year of Global Impact. The 25th World Korea Forum brought together academics from different countries and representatives of international organizations at ITU Ayazağa Campus Süleyman Demirel Cultural Center on August 14-15.

ITU expects more students from South Korea

In her speech, our Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Şule Itır Satoğlu welcomed the participants and emphasized the strong ties between Türkiye and South Korea, which were further strengthened by the Korean War, and the common history of the two countries as follows: “An important topic of discussion at the symposium we will open today will be the search for a new global order. It is obvious that the current international system is facing a significant crisis. The demand for a new and fair global order is becoming more urgent every day. I wish the symposium to be fruitful and have a positive impact on the cooperation between Türkiye and South Korea. Istanbul Technical University continues to increase its quality of education and research by improving its global ranking according to international ranking organizations such as THE and QS. ITU offers its international students a vibrant campus life with comfortable spaces where they can experience the comfort of their homes. In this context, I would like to emphasize that the doors of our university are wide open to more students from South Korea.”

Emphasis on solidarity and cooperation

In his opening speech at the forum, Prof. Dr. Tshangchu Rhee, Head of Korea Global Foundation, mentioned the importance of the strengthening of alliances and global diplomacy. He expressed his pleasure that the event is held at Istanbul, where East and West meet, teaching coexistence and cooperation. Saying that he will quit his role he has been pursuing for 25 years with this event, Prof. Dr. Rhee expressed his expectations from the future as follows: “World Korea Forum is a historical and traditional representative Korean public diplomacy organization in the international community. In the future, we will continue the task of solidarity and cooperation by predicting future changes in global society and the Korean Peninsula and seeking new roles.”

During the two-day sessions of the event where our Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Satoğlu moderated the session on politics and security, issues such as new global order, Korean peninsula, global relations, the evolution of technology and social economy, a proposed global agenda, and humanities were discussed.

Our Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Lütfiye Durak Ata made a presentation on Transforming Higher Education for the Era of Globalization and AI: Lessons from Istanbul Technical University’s Journey.

At the end of the event, Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra gave a concert of Korean folk songs with traditional Korean instruments.