18th WKF opening session draws more than 2,000 people

[Photo by Kim Jae-hoon and Han Joo-hyung]

More than 2,000 people crammed into Jangchung Arena in Central Seoul where the 18th World Knowledge Forum (WKF) opened on Tuesday.

Several Korean political figures including ruling Democratic Party Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae, People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo, Liberty Korea Party floor leader Chung woo-taek and Bareun Party floor leader Joo Ho-young attended the VIP meeting that began at 7:40 a.m.

Science and ICT Minister Yoo Young-min met Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) CEO Dirk Ahlborn to talk about hyperloop technology. Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo discussed the U.S. and Korean economy with Harvard economist Oliver Hart, 2016 Nobel laureate in economics, and Harvard University professor Robert Barro.

Former U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon delivered the first speech titled ‘Paris Climate Accord and the Future of Humanity’ at an open session, and former French President Francois Hollande and former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus shared their insights on international affairs, policies of the Donald Trump administration and the future of the U.S.

The WKF, an annual forum hosted by South Korea’s largest business media Maekyung Media Group, is held until Oct. 19.

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