The South Korean government has approved funding for three international events: the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, the Yeoncheon World Paleolithic Expo, and the International Agricultural Expo. However, the International Night Industry Expo will undergo a reassessment due to insufficient justification for funding.
On August 5, the Ministry of Economy and Finance held the 147th International Event Review Committee meeting, chaired by Deputy Minister Jo Yong-beom, to evaluate the results of the 2026 International Event Policy Rating Survey.
The committee reviewed four international events selected for the policy rating survey in March. It recognized the funding eligibility for the 49th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the 29th Environmental Protection Committee in 2027, the Yeoncheon World Paleolithic Expo in 2029, and the International Agricultural Expo in 2027.
The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will take place from May 17 to 27, 2027, at the Songdo Convensia in Incheon. The event will discuss operational measures for the peaceful use and environmental protection of Antarctica, with participation expected from 370 representatives from over 50 countries.
This will be the first time South Korea has hosted the meeting since the 19th session in 1995. The agenda includes plenary sessions, chief representative meetings, Environmental Protection Committee meetings, and working group sessions throughout the event.
The Yeoncheon World Paleolithic Expo, co-hosted by Gyeonggi Province and Yeoncheon County, is scheduled for April 21 to May 11, 2029, at the Jeongok-ri archaeological site in Yeoncheon. The goal is to attract 1 million attendees, including 970,000 domestic visitors and 30,000 international guests.
The Jeongok-ri site is notable for being the first location in Asia where an Acheulean hand axe was discovered. The government hopes the expo will enhance awareness of the site's significance and promote historical and cultural exchanges.
The International Agricultural Expo, organized by Jeollanam-do, will be held from October 22 to 31, 2027, in Naju, South Jeolla Province. It aims to showcase agricultural energy technologies and advanced technology demonstrations, with participation expected from 300,000 attendees from 40 countries.
In contrast, the 2028 International Night Industry Expo was deemed to lack sufficient justification for government funding. The organizing body will need to revise the project and undergo a reassessment or reapplication process.
The committee also confirmed the post-event evaluations for five international events held last year, including World Environment Day, the World Stamp Exhibition, the Busan International Film Festival, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, and the Jecheon International Traditional Korean Medicine Expo.
The evaluations revealed some shortcomings in participant numbers and adherence to event duration. The results will be communicated to the organizing bodies and will inform future international event planning and funding assessments.
Deputy Minister Jo emphasized, "International events should not be one-time occurrences but serve as a foundation for sustainable regional growth," urging organizing bodies to prepare meticulously and collaborate closely with relevant agencies to ensure the successful execution of the approved international events.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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