Vice Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Nam Jae-heon met diplomats from Norway, Chile, the Netherlands, Germany, Greece and Brazil in Seoul on Thursday to discuss preparations for the fourth UN Ocean Conference, or UNOC4.
The conference, scheduled to be held in Busan in 2028, is one of the world’s largest high-level forums on ocean issues and supports the implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, which focuses on conserving and sustainably using oceans and marine resources.
About 20,000 participants from 193 UN member states, international organizations and nongovernmental groups are expected to attend.
During the meeting, participants discussed marine environmental protection, the sustainable use of ocean resources and responses to sea-level rise, while sharing policy experiences and areas of interest.
“These ocean challenges require cooperation among many countries, and what is especially important is putting the measures discussed into practice,” Espen Fredrik Larsen, Norway’s ambassador-designate to South Korea, said. He added that Norway would work closely with South Korea and Chile, the co-hosts of UNOC4.
The ministry plans to hold two additional meetings with foreign diplomatic missions in South Korea, one with Asia-Pacific countries and another with African countries, to gather views and priorities for the conference.
“It is important for UNOC4 to lead to practical action and cooperation in addressing global ocean challenges,” Nam said. “We will continue communicating with the international community and reflect a wide range of national experiences and views in the preparation process.”
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea has begun preparations for the 2028 UN Ocean Conference in Busan, launching its first consultation with foreign diplomats on key ocean policy priorities.
- UNOC4 is expected to bring about 20,000 participants from 193 UN member states, with discussions focused on marine protection, sustainable ocean use and sea-level rise.
- South Korea and Chile will co-host the conference, while Seoul plans further consultations with Asia-Pacific and African countries to gather priorities and policy input ahead of UNOC4.
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