INCHEON, South Korea - The World Journalists Conference (WJC) 2025 closed in South Korea on April 4 with participants meeting business and political leaders, experiencing Korean culture and food, and visiting different places around the country during the week-long event.
The conference tackled two important topics for journalists: “Shaping the Future of Journalism in the AI Media Era: Copyright and Ethical Challenges” and “The Role of Journalism in Confronting Climate Change and Environmental Shifts.”
The hosts and participants of the World Journalists Conference 2025 at the closing ceremony at Ramada Songdo, South Korea on April 4 (Photo courtesy of Asel Sooronbaeva)
Incheon Vice Mayor for Global City and Political Affairs Hwang Hyo Jin speaking at the closing ceremony of the World Journalists Conference 2025 at Ramada Songdo, South Korea on April 4 (Jonathan Hicap)
Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) president Park Jong Hyun thanking participants at the closing ceremony of the World Journalists Conference 2025 at Ramada Songdo, South Korea on April 4 (Jonathan Hicap)
The closing ceremony held at Ramada Songdo was attended and hosted by Incheon Vice Mayor for Global City and Political Affairs Hwang Hyo Jin and host Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) president Park Jong Hyun.
Hwang thanked Park and staff for their hard work in organizing the conference. He said the “rapid advancement of AI [artificial intelligence] technology” is changing the media environment.
“Emergence of generating AI has enabled automated news production and personalized content delivery, ushering in an era where anyone can become a journalist,” he said.
Hwang added that journalists should introduce new perspectives in fact checking.
In his speech, Park said, “Today is the last day. I remember when I had the welcoming speech in Seoul. At the time, I called you a ‘distinguished journalist.’ But today, I will change my calling for you: ‘To my dear friend.’”
Park also said the foreign journalists were also in Korea at an opportune time as the Constitutional Court announced its decision on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Participants of the World Journalists Conference 2025 at the opening ceremony and in different places in South Korea (Journalists Association of Korea)
He accompanied the journalists on trips to different places in South Korea.
From Seoul, 62 foreign journalists from 52 countries, including Manila Bulletin from the Philippines, flew to Jeju Island where they met Governor Oh Young-hun and Lim Ki-mo, Jeju’s ambassador of international relations.
From there, they went to Anseong, Siheung and Suwon in Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon where they visited tourist sites, were briefed on economic and business projects, and met government officials.
Participants in the conference thanked Park and JAK for the chance to visit South Korea.
They came from Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkiye, United Arab Emirates, US, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.
The conference was supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Korea Press Foundation (KPF).
Participants of the World Journalists Conference 2025 in South Korea (Journalists Association of Korea)