Now in its 10th year, the has been a platform for exploring the key issues and guiding spirit of the times since its launch in 2016. Addressing themes such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, climate crisis, inequality, and the post-COVID-19 world order, the forum has continually sought to chart a path forward for Korean society. This year’s , held under the theme The Age of Hyper-Acceleration - Beyond Fear to Hope, seeks solutions for the wise coexistence of humanity and technology amid an era of rapid and often overwhelming change.

The recent dramatic advancements in technology led by artificial intelligence (AI) evoke the sense of living in a science fiction film. These innovations are transforming not only our daily lives but also the very foundations of politics, economics, society, and culture, becoming a global issue with far-reaching impacts on the environment, employment, and more. The intensifying competition in cutting-edge technology is reshaping international order and emerging as a critical factor in national security. Now is the time to gather wisdom to build a future society where humanity and technology coexist, fostering balanced national and social growth and ensuring that the benefits reach everyone.

Standing between hope and fear, this year’s brings together leading domestic and international experts to assess the current state of this hyper-accelerated era and seek constructive pathways forward.

Session 1, titled “A Rapidly Changing World: A Civilizational Turning Point,” features lectures by Gina NEFF, Executive Director of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge; XIANG Biao, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany; and LEE Kwang Hyung, President of KAIST. The session concludes with a dialogue moderated by LEE Jung-Dong, Professor LEE Jung-Dong from the College of Engineering of Seoul National University.

Session 2, “AI Changing the World: Innovation and Challenge,” features Bo AN, President’s Chair Professor in Computer Science, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore; BAE Kyunghoon, President of LG AI Research; and Professor MOON Byung-Ro from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of Seoul National University. The session will address the ongoing U.S.-China AI rivalry, the current state of Korea’s AI industry, and future directions.

Session 3, “The Age of Hyper-Acceleration: Technological Progress for All,” includes lectures by Professor KIM Jae-Yin from the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies, Kyung Hee University. A special lecture will be delivered by CHUNG Serang, an acclaimed writer. The session concludes with a panel discussion on the healthy coexistence of humans and technology, moderated by KIM Jae-Yin and joined by Bo AN, KIM Jihee, Professor, School of Business and Technology Management, College of Business, KAIST, and Professor KIM Hyo-eun from the Department of Liberal Arts and Humanities, Hanbat National University.