6th Holistic World Citizenship Week Concluded, Hosted by UNAI Korea Council and Kim Younggil GRACE School at Handong University

Top Experts from Each Field, Including Ham Jaebong, Cho Hongshik, Kim Hang, and Steven Oh, Participate
Offering Balanced Insights Essential for Global Citizens Amid Rapidly Changing World Affairs

Photo by UNAI Korea Council-Handong Global University

The 6th Holistic World Citizenship Week H.U.M.A.N in Creation 2026, co-hosted by the UN Academic Impact Korea Council (Chairman Yoo Joonggeun) and Kim Younggil GRACE School at Handong Global University and sponsored by Korea Zinc and Youngone Corporation, was held under the overarching theme, "Seeking Balance: Four Questions from History to Shape Our Future."

Marking its sixth year, the event took place over two days, from Monday, September 14 to Tuesday, September 15, at the Kim Younggil GRACE School, Handong Global University. The program centered on the World Wisdom Talks, a series of in-depth lectures aimed at exploring insights into the present and directions for the future based on holistic global citizenship values. It drew enthusiastic responses from attendees, particularly as it closely examined the core values and practical action plans humanity should pursue amid today's compound global crises and rapid technological revolution.

This year's core keyword, 'Balance', started from an awareness of the need for wisdom to seek better paths while recognizing the collision of diverse values in rapidly changing times. 'Balance' is not about choosing a single value or a mechanical equilibrium, but rather about the rigorous attitude of continually questioning and seeking ways for conflicting values to coexist.

On why 'history' was chosen as the starting point for discussing the future, organizers explained that today's global affairs and complex crises are closely connected to the fundamental questions that humanity has long grappled with. History does not offer ready-made answers for the future, but encourages self-reflection on our origins and current position, thereby broadening our perspective and insight on where to head next.

Photo courtesy of UNAI Korea Council - Handong University

Yoo Joonggeun, Chairman of the UNAI Korea Council, defined the nature of the event, stating, "This 'World Wisdom Talks' is not a place where experts derive and provide predetermined answers to students, but rather a space to share a lifetime of experience and wisdom from each field with the next generation and to start new questions together."

He added, "I hope students do not leave with just one standardized answer to the four questions, but instead carry away at least 'one good question' of their own from the lectures." He further encouraged, "I hope students will not stop at simply knowing what they learn from the lectures, but will continually reflect on what is right, taking responsibility for their knowledge and abilities as mature global citizens."

Since its inaugural edition in 2021, Holistic World Citizenship Week has steadily advanced broad discussions and essential tasks, including establishing the concept and basic direction of holistic world citizenship education (1st edition), fusion with ESG values (2nd), building future visions and roadmaps (3rd), reflecting on values and responsibilities amid global compound crises (4th), and practical movements for change, innovation, and cooperation toward a sustainable society (5th).

The 6th event drew significant attention because, unlike previous editions that focused on normative declarations and concept establishment, it placed concrete historical and real-world industrial case studies at the forefront. Going beyond abstract theory, the program drew multi-dimensional insights into the wisdom of reflection required of global citizens today by using the lens of intense conflict and institutional experimentation experienced by various continents and civilizations, as well as hands-on accounts from the forefront of cutting-edge technological fields.

The program formed in-depth discussions by seamlessly connecting the founding of the United States and Korea's dynamic development (the Americas and Korea); the process of European integration after centuries of conflict (Europe); the shared memory in the histories of Korea, China, and Japan marked by colonization and war (East Asia); and the frontiers of global industries leading advanced video technology (AI).

The core program, World Wisdom Talks, revolved around four questions that span the past, present, and future of human civilization, with each session sparking earnest questions and answers. Speakers included Ham Jaebong, President of the Academy of Korean Studies; Cho Hongshik, Professor at Soongsil University; Kim Hang, Professor at Yonsei University; and Steven Oh, CEO of XM2, who each delivered lectures on the topics of freedom and equality, diversity and integration, memory and reconciliation, and AI and human creativity, respectively—offering solutions for a sustainable society and future.

Ultimately, in the future market led by advanced technology, it is believed that the ultimate competitiveness required of businesses and individuals lies not in mere efficiency, but in generating human-centered value based on a 'balanced' perspective that enables the coexistence of humanity and technology.

This 6th Holistic World Citizenship Week went beyond simply instilling theory or conveying knowledge; by cross-verifying the histories of the past (sessions 1–3) and the technologies of the future (session 4), it guided participants to develop a sense of 'Balance'—staying centered amid complex crises. The questions posed in each session ultimately led to the fundamental issues: "How will we choose balance?" and "What kind of global citizens will we become?" In an age of polarization and division, the event once again reminded participants of the practical responsibilities of global citizens to lead harmony and coexistence.

A representative from the Kim Younggil GRACE School at Handong Global University remarked, "Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of countless domestic and international attendees both online and offline over two days, the event was a great success." The official continued, "We hope this conference, which addressed both historical reflection and technological challenges, has become a powerful compass for everyone living in this era of complex crises—helping us to reflect on the past and proactively shape the future."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.