IFEZ Journal

Successful Hosting of the World Health City Forum

IFEZ Takes a Step toward Becoming a Future Smart Healthy City

The first World Health City Forum (WHCF) was held in Songdo International City last November. This forum, held under the theme “Globalization of Risk: 

How to Make the World Safer” provided an opportunity to discuss the sustainable development of future cities and countries.

World Health City Forum held at Songdo Convensia.

The forum was attended by 150 experts.

International Forum Held in Incheon, a Future City

On November 20, people from all over the world flocked to Songdo Convensia in Incheon. A total of 150 scholars, experts, government officials, and businesspeople from over 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Americas, as well as international organizations like the WHO and the Global Green Climate Fund (GCF), visited Korea to participate in the 1st World Health City Forum. This forum seeks joint-response measures and solutions in the face of recent global health crises, such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate disasters, low birth rates, and hyper-aging. Incheon City and IFEZ have been actively promoting the hosting of this forum since early last year.

This forum lasted three days. On the first day, the opening ceremony was attended by Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok (chairperson of the forum), Seoul National University President Rhu Hong-lim (chairperson of the organizing committee), Ewha Womans University President Kim Eun-mee, Yonsei University President Suh Seoung-hwan, and GCF Deputy Executive Director Henry Gonzalez. In addition, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and Minister of Health and Welfare Cho Kyoo-hong delivered congratulatory remarks through video messages.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon delivered a congratulatory speech.

Each lecture was met with an enthusiastic response from the audience.

Incheon Declaration for a Future Sustainable City

At this forum, over 50 sessions and special programs were held under the theme “Globalization of Risk: How to Make the World Safer” Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Jee Young-mee, who gave the first keynote speech, emphasized the need for global health cooperation to respond to the threat of the next pandemic and to ensure the safety of citizens and cities. Foundation on Economic Trends (FOET) President Jeremy Rifkin then emphasized, “In the next 20 years, all wild animals and plants will disappear from the Earth. Only by accepting all living things as part of the family can we move toward a healthy era.”

Participants also discussed various agendas related to the global health crisis, such as digital and biotechnology to overcome pandemics, community building to overcome disasters, and community design for public health. They came up with various solutions to overcome and solve problems. On the last day, the results of the discussions held during the forum were concluded, and all speakers announced the final agreed-upon Incheon Declaration. This declaration pledged to pursue related policies by improving equity, fairness, and social justice in the health sector, strengthening people-centered community health services, decarbonizing, and building sustainable cities.

On the last day, the ‘Incheon Declaration’ was officially announced.

Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City

“This forum is significant in that it announced to the world that Incheon is a leading city in responding to the pandemic and climate crisis that threaten humanity. We will continue to fulfill our responsibilities and roles commensurate with this status.”

Kim Jin-yong, IFEZ Commissioner

“I am pleased to host this global forum in Songdo, which is growing into a world-class city. I will strive for the World Health City Forum to become a global platform that leads the response to the next pandemic and climate crisis.”