About WKF
Following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the World Knowledge Forum (WKF) was founded in October 2000 after two years of preparation with the ambition to transform Korea into a knowledge-driven nation. Since then, the World Knowledge Forum has served as a platform for active discussions aimed at narrowing knowledge gaps through knowledge sharing, and fostering balanced global economic growth and prosperity.

A total of approximately 5,832 global speakers and 62,821 attendees have participated since the inaugural forum in 2000, held under the theme of 'Shaping the New Millennium with Knowledge.' The WKF has since grown into one of the largest knowledge-sharing events worldwide.

Prominent speakers at previous WKFs have included state leaders such as George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States; Theresa May, the 76th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Nicolas Sarkozy, the 23rd President of the French Republic; and Gerhard Schröder, the 7th Chancellor of Germany. Presidents of international organizations have also participated, including Jim Yong Kim, the 12th President of the World Bank. Founders and CEOs such as Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation; Larry Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Oracle Corporation; John L. Hennessy, Chairman of Alphabet; and George Soros, Chairman of Soros Fund Management, have graced the forum. Scholars including Larry Summers, Paul Krugman, Michael Porter, and Gregory Mankiw have also addressed the forum.

Celebrating its 25th year, the World Knowledge Forum will host a variety of discussions under the theme "Journey Towards Coexistence".


This year's World Knowledge Forum will be joined by leading experts in their respective fields, including Hun Sen, former Prime Minister of Cambodia; Mauricio Macri, former President of Argentina; Naftali Bennett, former Prime Minister of Israel; John Kelly, the 28th White House Chief of Staff; Robert C. O’Brien, the 27th U.S. National Security Advisor; Linda G. Mills, the 17th President of New York University; Kohei Itoh, the 20th President of Keio University; Jonathan Gray, Blackstone COO; Kam Ghaffarian, Co-Founder of X-energy; Ian Goldin, Professor at Oxford University; Chris Miller, Professor at Tufts University; and Dominique Perrault, French architect and urban planner.



SeungHoon Lee, CEO of immersive content developer The2H, introduces his company's technology at the 'WORLD KNOWLEDGE FORUM 2024' on September 10 at the INSPIRE Entertainment Resort in INCHEON.

Session

- [Korea Conference] Sail Away to the Blue Ocean


Time/Place

10. 17:10 ~ 18:10, Mountain B


As skepticism about the future of the tech industry grows, even global funds are scaling back their investments in startups. However, this downturn presents a unique opportunity for companies with genuine technological innovations to shine.

In Korea, a nation known for its dynamism, a new wave of startups?driven by cutting-edge technology, creativity, and a strong spirit of innovation?continues to emerge. This session will spotlight five standout startups, handpicked by the Korea Conference, a platform dedicated to supporting Korean ventures as they expand into the U.S. market.

Joining them on stage will be U.S. corporate finance and M&A experts, who will mentor these startups, offering invaluable guidance on navigating the complexities of entering the U.S. market.

This session is a must-attend for venture capitalists and accelerators seeking promising startups, as well as entrepreneurs planning to expand their operations into the U.S.