The Incheon Port Authority (www.icpa.or.kr, President Lee Kyung-Gyu) announced that it has successfully concluded the two-day proceedings of the 5th Incheon International Ocean Forum (IIOF 2024),” held under the central theme ‘The Sea of Today, The Ocean of Tomorrow’, with the slogan “The World Calls, The Ocean Waves” on the 5^th.

The 5th Incheon International Ocean Forum (IIOF 2024) brought together 33 experts from 9 countries who engaged both online and offline to share key trends in the marine industry and explore future-oriented development strategies. Networking with various marine business professionals and interactive Q&A sessions with on-site participants boosted enthusiasm at the forum.

This year’s forum saw the participation of over 3,500 attendees, including VIPs who participated both in-person and virtually.

IPA reported that many attendees expressed strong resonance with keynote speaker Jared Diamond's speech, and there were numerous inquiries about accessing his lecture on YouTube. His speech, entitled "The Past, Present, and Future of the Ocean," discussed the ocean’s benefits throughout history while highlighting the severity of marine pollution today. He also stressed the need for international cooperation to ensure a healthy ocean for future generations.

The forum featured five main sessions and one special session, where three presenters in each session delivered presentations on pre-selected topics, followed by discussions. In its fifth iteration, the forum’s quality has been elevated with more in-depth presentations and discussions compared to previous years.

In addition, the forum offered several interactive programs in the lobby to enhance the experience of in-person attendees. These included an upcycling experience booth, a marine life cube photo wall, digital photo exhibitions, and a communication lounge, all of which garnered significant attention from the participants.

Incheon Port Authority's President Lee Kyung-Gyu remarked, “The Incheon International Ocean Forum, now in its fifth year, has firmly established itself as an event where world-renowned experts and ordinary citizens can come together to discuss the future of the ocean”, and added “For Incheon Port to further develop as a key gateway for the metropolitan area, it is essential for citizens to have a better understanding and active interest in the ocean. We are committed to making the forum a platform to foster communication with participants by continuously developing diverse content.”