GEEF 2023 at Yonsei will discuss ways to overcome international challenges

The 5th Global Engagement and Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF 2023) will be held at Centennial Hall at Yonsei University on Thursday and Friday. [GEEF]

The 5th Global Engagement Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF 2023) will be held at Yonsei University on Thursday and Friday to share views on various challenges within the international community and explore ways to overcome them.

Under the theme “Turning Point: From Crisis into Opportunity,” GEEF 2023 will propose various solutions to respond to global issues such as those regarding digital health, infectious disease diagnosis, smart cities, the future of higher education, climate crisis, social innovation and decarbonization.

The forum includes keynote speeches delivered by UN Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed and deputy chair of The Elders and former first lady of South Africa Graca Machel.

The Elders is an international non-governmental organization brought together by Nelson Mandela to achieve peace and human rights.

Some other speakers and panelists include former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, former President of Austria Heinz Fischer, former SriLankan Ports Shipping and Aviation Minister PremalalJayasekara, former Vanuatuan Health Minister Rick Mahe, European Union Ambassador to Korea Maria Castillo, and Hongkong Polytechnic University Vice President Wong Kwok-yin.

Current and former Korean government officials such as Foreign Minister Park Jin, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-hwa will also take part in the program.

GEEF 2023 will hold diverse sessions open to the public, including a plenary session dedicated to Japanese colonial era poet Yoon Dong-ju and featured sessions led by contemporary artists and graduate school students.

“The year 2023 marks the mid-point of the 15 years [2016-2030] for pursuing the UN Sustainable Development Goals and a turning point to transform our experiences of crises into new opportunities,” Yonsei University President Suh Seoung-hwan wrote in his welcoming message. “We seek to share knowledge and insights of the world's most prestigious experts in diverse fields.”

“It is essential to bring people together and enhance multi-national partnerships to build a sustainable path for our common future,” Ban Ki-moon added.

Those who wish to participate can register on the GEEF 2023 website (geef-sd.org) or on site at Yonsei University Centennial Hall until Friday.

GEEF 2023 is co-hosted by Yonsei University Institute for Global Engagement and Empowerment, the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, and the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens, and sponsored by FleishmanHillard, Korea Polar Research Institute, Korea Maritime Institute, Botanicsens and 119REO.

BY SOHN DONG-JOO [sohn.dongjoo@joongang.co.kr]