South Korea Prepares for 2028 UN Ocean Conference in Busan
“For international commitments to ocean development to be realized on the ground, we must continuously strengthen cooperation,” Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Vice Minister Nam Jae-heon stated during a diplomatic briefing in Seoul, haesanews.com reported.
The South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is ramping up diplomatic engagement with resident foreign missions to secure a successful outcome for the fourth United Nations Ocean Conference, scheduled for Busan in 2028. Vice Minister Nam met with ambassadors from Sweden and Timor-Leste, alongside the deputy ambassador of Malaysia, on the 29th in Seoul to map out preparation strategies and coordinate international policy frameworks.
Diplomatic Consultations and Agenda Planning in Seoul
The gathering marked the second formal roundtable between South Korean maritime officials and the Seoul-based diplomatic corps, following an initial meeting in September that included delegations from six nations. According to haesanews.com, these preparatory sessions aim to pool international policy insights and align collaborative priorities well in advance of the major summit.
Discussions during the consultations focused heavily on mounting climate pressures, including rising sea levels and shifting marine environments. Participants evaluated primary agenda items designed to produce concrete deliverables at the 2028 conference. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced plans to integrate feedback gathered from these foreign missions into its official preparatory roadmap while scheduling follow-up bilateral talks with participating embassies.
Global Scale and Ministerial Outreach
The UN Ocean Conference stands as the premier high-level international gathering for the marine sector, drawing roughly 20,000 delegates from 193 United Nations member states, international bodies, and non-governmental organizations. The upcoming fourth iteration in Busan will serve as a forum for member nations to address escalating ocean crises through joint multilateral action.
Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Hwang Jong-woo laid foundational diplomatic groundwork in September by attending the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York to expand international backing for the Busan summit. The ministry intends to maintain regular communication channels with the Seoul diplomatic community to capture diverse regional perspectives on ocean management and maximize tangible policy outcomes at the 2028 event.
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