The 2026 K-Confucianism International Forum Opens, Bringing Together Scholars and Experts from 5 Countries

Chungcheongnam-do (Governor Park Soo-hyun) and the Korea Institute of Confucian Culture and Humanities (Acting President Lee Sang-gyun, hereinafter referred to as KICH) successfully concluded the '2026 K-Confucianism International Forum' held at the Cheonan Sangrok Resort from September 17 to 18.

Held under the theme of 'K-Confucianism and Community Cohesion,' the forum brought together 16 scholars and experts from five countries—Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam—to discuss how Confucian values can contribute to building a peaceful community in a modern society marked by deepening conflicts and fragmentation.

The forum was organized to re-examine the wisdom of coexistence and harmony shared by East Asia over a long period from a contemporary perspective, and to expand it into practical values for a peaceful community. In particular, it focused on exploring the possibilities for different cultures and generations to engage in dialogue and solidarity beyond academic discussions in each country.

In his congratulatory speech, Chungcheongnam-do Governor Park Soo-hyun emphasized that "when small acts of mutual respect and consideration accumulate, community trust can be restored and peace can take root." He added that the implementation of the 'Chung (Loyalty), Hyo (Filial Piety), and Ye (Etiquette) Chungcheong Spirit,' which he approved as his first official directive of the 9th popular election, represents the core values of Confucian culture as well as universal values with which people worldwide can sympathize. He pledged to collaborate with KICH to promote the globalization of K-Confucianism and activate international humanistic exchanges.

In his opening remarks, Lee Sang-gyun, Acting President of KICH, welcomed domestic and foreign participants and stated that an important significance of this forum lies in connecting the Confucian wisdom shared across East Asia with today's community issues to seek possibilities for coexistence and solidarity.

On the first day of the forum, September 17, the first academic session was held under the theme of 'Wisdom of Coexistence: Modern Significance of East Asian Confucianism.' Chaired by Professor Kim Se-jeong of Chungnam National University, domestic and foreign researchers participated to examine the Confucian traditions and modern meanings of each country from various perspectives.

The presenters noted that the Confucian culture shared by East Asia does not merely remain an ideological heritage of the past, but can serve as a humanistic resource to reflect on the conflicts and community issues facing society today. In the following discussion, participants shared opinions on Confucian values and directions for practice to build mutual understanding and trust while respecting the historical and cultural differences of each country.

Subsequently, a special lecture by novelist Kim Hong-shin and a K-Confucianism talk concert under the theme of 'Reading People, Writing Peace' were held. This provided an opportunity to expand academic discussions into the realms of life and literature, reflecting together with citizens on the understanding and respect of human beings, as well as the meaning of relationships and community.

In particular, moving a step further from an expert-oriented international academic forum, the talk concert articulated Confucian values in a language that citizens could easily relate to, exploring the potential for the popularization of K-Confucianism.

On September 18, while continuing academic discussions under the theme of 'Peaceful Community and East Asian Humanistic Solidarity,' presentations and discussions involving future generations were conducted to explore the present significance and future possibilities of K-Confucianism. Domestic and foreign researchers along with the younger generation examined community challenges in connection with Confucian values and exchanged views on the direction of coexistence and solidarity that can be shared across generations and borders.

The two-day forum added significance by going beyond sharing Confucian traditions and experiences of East Asian countries, connecting Confucian values such as respect, consideration, dialogue, and trust with the community issues of modern society. Furthermore, with the participation of domestic and foreign scholars as well as future generations, it confirmed the potential to expand K-Confucianism into a practical value shared across generations and borders rather than remaining a mere academic discourse.

Since 2022, KICH has continuously discussed the modern values of Confucianism through the K-Confucianism International Forum. This year, it expanded the existing discussions on 'K-Confucianism and Modern Society' into 'K-Confucianism and Community,' presenting 'Peaceful Community' as its first topic.

KICH plans to link the diverse discussions presented by domestic and foreign experts and future generations at this forum to future international academic exchanges and research projects, broaden the foundation for East Asian humanistic exchange, and continuously spread the modern and practical values of K-Confucianism both domestically and internationally.