World Knowledge Forum

The World Knowledge Forum (WKF, 세계지식포럼) is a non-profit entity, which aims to promote balanced global growth and prosperity through knowledge-sharing. Its efforts "brings together global leaders to address the importance of knowledge in meeting the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world".[1]

World Knowledge Forum
세계지식포럼
FormationOctober 2000 (2000-10)
FounderChang Dae-Whan
TypeNonprofit
PurposeEconomic
Region served
Worldwide
Official language
English, Korean
Chang Dae-Whan

The World Knowledge Forum was conceived as part of the Vision Korea Project, a campaign launched by Maeil Business Newspaper in 1997, to "propose new visions for development to Korea and to the global community". The first World Knowledge Forum, entitled ‘Shaping the New Millennium with Knowledge,’ took place in 2000, shortly after the Asian financial crisis.

Partnering with Nikkei and Bloomberg, the Forum has now grown to encompass 1,053 sessions featuring over 4,028 speakers in total from all around the world.

In September 2022, the 19th WKF was held in Seoul, South Korea, with speakers including, Janet Yellen,[2] Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (2014-2018); Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia;[3] Arancha Gonzalez, executive director of International Trade Center (ITC); H. R. McMaster, The 26th White House National Security Council (NSC) Advisor of the Trump administration;[4] Rajeev Suri, CEO of Nokia; Kenneth C. Frazier, CEO of Merck & Co., Inc.; John Kim, President of New York Life Insurance Company; Jane Jie Sun, CEO of Ctrip; Wang Zhenghua, President of Spring Airlines; and Eric Allison, Head of Uber Elevate were present to grace the occasion under the theme, "Collective Intelligence: Overcoming Global Pandemonium".

History
Delivery Robot session at the 19th forum

The World Knowledge Forum (WKF) was founded in October 2000 by Chang Dae-Whan, a Chairman of Maekyung Media Group. Immediately after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the Vision Korea Project was launched to formulate ways to move Korea forward. In the following year, the World Knowledge Forum Secretariat was established, with Chairman Chang Dae-Whan presiding over the Forum's executive committee. After two years of preparation, the first World Knowledge Forum was held with the ambition to transform Korea into a knowledge driven nation. Under the theme, “Shaping the New Millennium with Knowledge”, the first forum composed of 32 sessions led by over 90 speakers.[5]

In 2001, the WKF formed media partnerships with prominent media outlets such as Financial Times, Bloomberg, and CNBC that helped the WKF gain its reputation globally. In the same year, the World Knowledge Corps was created.

Since 2010, MBA courses were incorporated as sessions at the WKF. New York University Stern School of Business first joined the WKF to hold an MBA session on finance. Then in 2013, HEC Paris and CEIBS jointly hosted special MBA sessions. Currently, six of the world's leading business schools are holding MBA sessions at the WKF.[6] The schools include INSEAD, IE Business School, NYU Stern, HEC Paris, Tsinghua SEM, and Guanghua School of Management.

Every year, the World Knowledge Forum gathers more than 4,000 business and opinion leaders around the world ranging from environmental and international organizations to world's major corporations and institutions. Forum's leaders discuss about the current issues and present their insights to find possible solutions for a more promising future. The main aim is to highlight the importance of knowledge sharing towards a balanced prosperity of the global economy. With the new venue at the Seoul Shilla Hotel in 2014, the official season two of the Knowledge Forum began.[7] Then in 2015, Jangchung Arena was added.[8]

Themes
Jangchung Arena, Venue

Forum themes have ranged from "Shaping the New Millennium With Knowledge" in 2000 to "Collective Intelligence: Overcoming Global Pandemonium" in 2018.[9] Each year's themes is based on both current issues and prospective challenges in the world.

Year Theme
2000 Shaping the New Millennium with Knowledge
2001 Drawing the Roadmap for Knowledge Economy and Global Prosperity
2002 Knowledge in a World of Risk : A Compass Towards New Prosperity
2003 Creating a New World Order and Economy
2004 Partnership for Renewed Growth
2005 Creativity and Collaboration : Foundation for the New Era
2006 Creative Economy
2007 Wealth Creation and Asia
2008 Collabonomics & Greater Asia
2009 One Asia : New Economic Order & Recovery
2010 One Asia Momentum, G20 Leadership & Creatinnovation
2011 The New Economic Crisis:

Reforming Global Leadership and Asia's Challenge

2012 The Great Breakthrough: New Solutions for Global Crisis.

(Leadership, Integrity, Creativity, and Happiness)

2013 The One Asia Metamorphosis
2014 Invigorating the Global Economy
2015 Mapping the Zeitgeist
2016 Aiming for Great Instauration
2017 Inflection Point : Towards New Prosperity
2018 Collective Intelligence: Overcoming Global Pandemonium

Organization
Logo of MBN&Maeil business newspaper

The World Knowledge Forum is organized by Maekyung Media Group including Maeil Business Newspaper and Maeil Broadcasting Network (MBN).[10]

References
  1. ":: WKF2017 ::". www.wkforum.org. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  2. Sheetz, Michael (2018-10-12). "Yellen says Fed is being 'thoroughly sensible' and not crazy, as Trump says". CNBC. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  3. "Maekyung Group's 19th World Knowledge Forum kicks off in Seoul - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea". pulsenews.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  4. Sang-Hun, Choe (12 October 2018). "North Korea Weaponizes Its Deal With Trump to Tangle Talks". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  5. "Seoul to host World Knowledge Forum next month - The Nation". The Nation. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  6. "WKF to offer prestigious MBA sessions - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea". pulsenews.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  7. "WKF 2014 to present global leaders' insight into 'Invigorating the Global Economy' - Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea". pulsenews.co.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  8. "Seoul to host World Knowledge Forum next month - The Nation". The Nation. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  9. ":: WKF2017 ::". www.wkforum.org. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
  10. "WKF 2018 opens in Seoul with a call for a digitalized world". Manila Bulletin News. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
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