Bulgaria-Korea Forum 2017
The Bulgaria-Korea Forum 2017 "Sharing Good Governance for Sustainable Development" was held at the premises of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". The event, which is a joint intitiative between SU and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bulgaria, marked the starting point of a three-day forum, which is organized in two more cities. Besides Sofia (6th of June), Burgas and Varna will also host events, respectively on the 8th and the 9th of June.
During the opening ceremony, welcoming speeches were carried out by the Vice-rector of Sofia University, Prof. Mariya Stoycheva, by the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, H.E. SHIN Boonam and by Prof. Todor Tanev. The Forum began with a significant moment - the signature of a memorandum of understanding between Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and "Hankuk" University of Foreign Studies, the main goal being to put in place a joint master's degree program between the two universities.
The New Conference Hall of Alma mater gathered at one place a pleiad of scientists and university professors from Bulgaria and South Korea, who discussed the Korean example and the role of good governance and leadership in the development of Republic of Korea. They shared the Korean experience that led to today's economic prosperity of the country and shaped models of cooperation in the sphere of education, culture and business. All participants agreed that good governance, economic development and sustainability could be reached only thanks to good and quality education. The Korean Strategy for Digital Transformation of the Economy, as well as the role played by science and by technological innovation in the economic development were also emphasized as core during the conference, in the light of Korea's experience.
Besides the participants from the academic world, the event gathered business representatives, representatives from the local and regional governments, diplomats, as well as representatives from the employers' and trade unions' organizations.
The General Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bulgaria-Korea, Dr. James Kang, and the Executive Director, Mr. Gueorgui Stoev, were also among the participants at the Forum, which created new opportunities for deepening the educational, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries, in which business plays also a major role.