Global Economic Times

Ambassador for Arctic Affairs Chung Byung-ha Attends ‘Arctic Frontiers 2026’… Discusses Strengthening Arctic Cooperation: KO YONG-CHUL Reporter / Updated : 2026-02-07 08:22:58

Chung Byung-ha, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, attended the ‘Arctic Frontiers 2026’ conference held in Tromsø, Norway, to review the recent situation in the Arctic and discuss international cooperation measures.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Chung participated in the Arctic Council Observer Meeting during the conference, held from February 2 to 5. He also engaged in bilateral meetings with government officials from Arctic states and major observer nations to exchange views on pending Arctic issues.

Arctic Frontiers, held annually in Tromsø since 2007, is a premier international forum involving government, academia, industry, and the media. This year’s conference, held under the theme "Turn of the Tide," brought together government officials and experts from industry, academia, and research institutes. Participants diagnosed recent developments, such as rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, and reached a consensus on the necessity of continuing and strengthening international cooperation.

Ambassador Chung attended the Arctic Council Observer Meeting presided over by Kenneth Høegh, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials (SAOC). Through bilateral meetings with representatives from Arctic nations—including the U.S., Canada, Norway, and Denmark—as well as major observer states like Japan and the U.K., he explained the Korean government’s comprehensive Arctic policy, including the development of Arctic shipping routes. He also exchanged views on bilateral cooperation plans and various Arctic issues.

In particular, on the occasion of Arctic Frontiers, Ambassador Chung hosted a trilateral discussion between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. The participants exchanged views on potential areas of cooperation and agreed to continue utilizing these discussions as part of various trilateral collaborative efforts in the future.

Furthermore, Ambassador Chung visited the Korea-Norway Polar Research Cooperation Center and the Arctic Economic Council Secretariat to discuss ways to expand public-private cooperation. He also attended a high-level dialogue on "Green Shipping and Ports" co-hosted by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI).

The government stated that as a responsible key partner for a peaceful, sustainable, and open Arctic, South Korea will actively participate in international efforts to resolve Arctic issues and continue to strengthen cooperation with Arctic and related nations.