With particular emphasis on Asia’s role in the new order, the forum will spur debate on finding cooperative solutions to global issues of climate change, geopolitical tension, security risks and low growth.

Among the key speakers are U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former Japanese leader Tomiichi Murayama, former Malaysian leader Mahathir bin Mohamad and former Singaporean leader Goh Chok Tong. 



Secretary-General Ban will deliver a keynote address at the opening ceremony on May 26. It is his second visit to the forum, having attended the fifth event in 2009.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger, former Italian leader Enrico Letta, Peace Research Institute founder Johan Galtung, Siemens AG president and CEO Joe Kaeser and Tesla Motors’ cofounder and CTO Jeffrey B. Straubel are also joining to share their ideas.

Other prominent participants from South Korea include Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, National Human Rights Commission chief Lee Sung-ho, First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam, Saenuri Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won, JoongAng Ilbo chairman Hong Seok-hyun and Herald Corporation chairman Jungwook Hong.

The Jeju Forum consists of four plenaries, such as “the World Leaders Session,” and 65 concurrent sessions. The sessions organized by 40 organizations are categorized into five main agendas: peace, prosperity, sustainability, diversity and global Jeju.

They will cover a wide range of topics from nuclear security to terrorism and safety in Asia-Pacific, sustainability and diversity of the region and possibilities and situations of East Asia. There will also be diverse banquets, performances and networking functions.

The forum is cohosted by the government of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, International Peace Foundation, East Asia Foundation and JoongAng Ilbo.

Among the sessions are the “Dialogue with Dr. John Galtung,” “Newspaper Concert” and the “Youth Leaders Culture Summit.”

Galtung, the founder of “paxology” (peace studies),” will hold a special dialogue session with Kim Young-hie, a senior columnist at the JoongAng Ilbo. They will exchange views on recent cross-border tensions between the Koreas sparked by Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile program.

The topic will also be addressed in sessions like “Rethinking Nuclear Disarmament in Asia-Pacific” and “Denuclearizing North Korea -- Agenda for Action” by the East Asia Foundation.

A group of former and incumbent high-ranking government officials and experts of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network will lead the discussion concerning the nuclear crisis of North Korea.

Former foreign ministers of South Korea will also gather to diagnose the current situation in Northeast Asia while presenting possible future directions. On May 27, former ministers Kim Sung-hwan, Yu Myung-hwan and Song Min-soon will take part in the discussion that will be hosted by Chun Yung-woo, the chairman of the Korea Peninsula Future Forum and a former senior presidential adviser for security and foreign policy.

Murayama, who will also deliver a keynote speech and participate in the World Leaders Session, is well known for the “Murayama statement” that marked a turning point in the relationship between South Korea and Japan.

Kaeser of Siemens AG will speak about the role his company played in economic integration after German reunification and offer his insights into solving the situation of the two Koreas. He will have a special dialogue with Yum Jae-ho, president of Korea University on May 27 under the theme, “A unified Korea finds its future in business enterprises” to discuss ways for Korean businesses to play in Korean unification. Kaeser has cited “education of the North Korean workforce” as the most important step for successful unity.

Bolger, another former leader renowned for his bold reform of the public sector and the economy, is expected to underline the importance of Asia’s role in the world, particularly in the world economy.

Tesla Motors’ Straubel will present his views on the future of electric vehicles. Along with Won Hee-ryong, Jejudo Island governor and chairman of the organizing committee, he will share views on the “Revolutionary Changes Electric Vehicles Will Bring to Our Lives.”