Daejeon to play host to 7th UCLG Congress

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Daejeon to play host to 7th UCLG Congress

Published: 22 Sep. 2022, 17:07

A nighttime view of Daejeon, which will host the seventh United Cities and Local Governments Congress from Oct. 10 to the 14 at Daejeon Convention Center [2022 DAEJEON UCLG WORLD CONGRESS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]

The seventh United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Congress is beginning to take shape in none other than the rising technological hub of Daejeon. The event will be conducted over five days from Oct. 10 to the 14 at Daejeon Convention Center (DCC). As the first event since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Daejeon UCLG World Congress is expected to significantly ignite integrated cooperation and navigate international matter.

The UCLG is a global network officially confirmed by the United Nations that fosters and defends local interests on the world stage. Rooted from such foundation, the UCLG World Summit and Congress is held every three years to encourage peace and the well-being of the international community. During this municipal gathering, countless yet individually significant issues are dealt with. As a stepping stone to recover from the visible damage inflicted on the globe over the past few years, the seventh UCLG World Congress will handle matters such as infectious diseases, climate change, wars, polarization and quality of life. Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang Woo remains hopeful for innovative breakthroughs for the prosperity of all under the congress’s theme, “Local and Regional Governments Breaking Through as One.” The magnitude of this year’s congress is huge with roughly 1,000 local governments from around 140 nations expected to participate in the event.

Visitors check out advanced robotics at the Daejeon Science Festival in October last year. Such technology will also be on display at this year’s UCLG Science Festival. [2022 DAEJEON UCLG WORLD CONGRESS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]

Daejeon is home to about 1.45 million people and is perceived as a technological hub where a large portion of Korea’s technological and scientific research takes place. It has numerous laboratory institutes that are government-funded to create the best outcomes for science and technology. This regional characteristic formulates a distinction from past congresses. As well as encompassing four tracks traditionally included at previous UCLG gatherings, the 2022 Daejeon UCLG World Congress will also include the Daejeon Track, which is a first attempt from a host country. During this session, Daejeon aims to share knowledge of its valuable scientific assets with fellow participants under a dominant theme — “A City Where No One is Left Behind Through Science and Technology.” Including Daejeon Sejong Research Institute and the UN Project Office on Governance (Unpog), 10 organizational experts will participate in this track to discuss intimate issues such as smart cities, metaverse and technological revolutions.

Conferences will be held in a hybrid format both online and offline in accordance with the severity of the pandemic. Offline interactions have incorporated modern formats where participants are encouraged to freely discuss and express their ideas without strict boundaries or formalities. Open discussions and group talks aim to foster fruitful and informative exchanges among speakers.

Mayor of Daejeon Lee Jang-woo expresses his hopes for the Daejeon UCLG Congress 2022 at the UCLG D-100 ceremony at Daejeon Expo Plaza on July 2. [2022 DAEJEON UCLG WORLD CONGRESS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE]

“My hopes for Daejeon UCLG is that the event will exist not only as a means for stiff conversations,” said Mayor Lee. “The congress will be a global celebration and a representative event of cooperation and fiesta.”
Daejeon has multiple activities planned during the summit to foster a festive spirit. A K-pop concert sponsored by Hana Bank will be held on Oct. 11 at Daejeon World Cup Stadium. During the conference week, multiple performances will be held at local cultural institutes where visitors can soak themselves in traditional Korean content. Both Daejeon Arts Center and Daejeon Municipal Yeonjeong Korean Traditional Music Center have scheduled performances to give UCLG congress participants the best experience possible during their time in Korea.

Daejeon’s vivid colors will be intensified with an abundance of eye-catching activities at Daejeon Hanbit Square. Celebrations led by Daejeon citizens to deliver warm words of welcome to visitors have been prepared in every nook and cranny of the beautiful tourist destination, such as drone shows, food courts and flea markets. Visitors can also experience busking, a long-time trend in Korea. A campaign for carbon neutrality and diverse civil festivals are planned for Hanbit Square during the week of the congress. An Esports competition involving the hottest online games, as well as a regional science festival are also set to take place. Areas around the DCC have been decorated with sculptures and three-dimensional artworks to highlight the architectural aesthetic of the center to visitors.

Apart from the diverse cultural content Daejeon has to offer, a Smart City Exhibition will also be held during the week of the congress. The exhibition will be a gathering of collective business ideas and technology Korea confidently boasts. Daejeon’s Smart City Show will be conducted under the theme, “We share smart technology” and is to be held in a hall within the DCC from Oct. 11 to 14. The exhibit focuses on the rapidly developing scale and significance of smart cities throughout the years as well as Daejeon’s accumulation of technological knowledge. The exhibit will be a means of displaying Daejeon’s ICT infrastructure as well as contactless technology that was vigorously developed during the pandemic.

Daejeon’s Smart City Show will be divided into three zones: smart city zone, smart living zone and smart tech zone. The smart city exhibits will introduce the seven fundamentals of Korean smart cities which are energy, administration, safety, traffic, healthcare, eco and data. Daejeon believes that it will be a timely appeal to the world to show Korea’s quality smart city blueprints that are now being funded by the government. Major content featured in this zone includes Daejeon’s smart city booth which embraces the region’s ideals and ambitions for future smart cities and examples of smart technology implementation in Korea’s major cities other than Daejeon.

The Smart City Show offers business opportunities to those who are seeking professional advice for ethical investment. Small- and medium-sized Daejeon firms can receive professional consultation regarding exports and international sales. Visitors from elsewhere can also indulge in more interactive practices at the exhibit. The show itself will be dynamic, inviting visitors to experience and go through the content provided. Robot shows and holographic magic shows are both highly recommended activities Daejeon has prepared for everyone to enjoy.

A lounge at the exhibit will reflect diverse exotic experiences available in smart cities and thus become a separate realm for visitors to fully immerse themselves in novel technology. The resting place will be completely managed by robots, eliminating any necessity for direct contact with humans. Indirect technology will be provided by AutoVe, an autonomous vehicle created by the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute. A self-driving bus has been prepared at the expo bridge to offer visitors an exciting and safe transportation option.

A substantial art wall that harmoniously depicts a collaboration of art and technology will also be visible at the lounge to maximize visitors’ experience at the show. The digital art wall will become a stage for media arts and multiple performances are planned to take place in the beautiful atmosphere. Visitors will have the opportunity to try hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) while appreciating cultural content from the National Museum of Korea. Participants of such events can have a chance of winning gifts after uploading related images or posts on their personal social media accounts.

The Daejeon UCLG Congress 2022 is expected to be a turn of events from past gatherings and orient international society to a shared value of solidarity and cooperation. The pandemic has loosened the concept of a world community and diminished the values the term possesses. Mayor Lee hopes the best for the recovery of the bonds between every individual and nation via the upcoming congress. As the backdrop of the congress’s theme suggests, Daejeon and its citizens desire outcomes that go beyond cities. With careful consideration and commitment, the congress will arrive at a consensus that wisely breakthroughs the immediate concerns that dawn on international society and provide guidelines for future generations. The essentials of the congress, people, planet and government comprise the persistent matter of sustainability. Korea’s scientific achievements as well as political development will adequately lead the meeting in positive directions. The seventh UCLG will embrace the capacity to coexist as a meaningful conference and a harmonious ceremony thanks to Daejeon’s extensive preparations.

BY LEE HYEIN [lee.hyein@joongang.co.kr]

Daejeon to play host to 7th UCLG Congress

korea joongAng daily

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Daejeon to play host to 7th UCLG Congress

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