The United Nations General Assembly has officially selected South Korea and Chile as the co-hosts for the Fourth UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in 2028. This decision, formalized by a resolution adopted at the UN Headquarters in New York on December 9 (local time), marks a significant diplomatic and economic victory for Seoul.
The resolution, which passed overwhelmingly with 169 votes in favor (and two against from the United States and Argentina), designates South Korea as the location for the main conference in June 2028. In line with the tradition of a developed and an emerging economy co-hosting the triennial event, Chile will host a high-level preparatory meeting in 2027.
Key Discussions under "Life Below Water"
The UNOC is the world's highest-level international gathering dedicated to ocean issues, focusing on accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. The 2028 conference will cover critical global challenges, including:
Preventing Marine Pollution
Restoring Marine Ecosystems
Promoting Sustainable Fisheries
Establishing Marine Protected Areas
Strengthening the International Legal Framework on Oceans
Industry experts anticipate that the 2028 conference will be a pivotal moment for setting the major framework and direction for international ocean cooperation beyond 2030, just two years before the critical SDG deadline.
Active Diplomatic Campaign
South Korea and Chile had agreed to jointly bid for the 2028 conference in April of last year, followed by an active diplomatic campaign by Seoul. President Lee Jae-myung publicly committed to hosting the UNOC during his UN General Assembly address in September. The Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Jeon Jae-soo, attended the vote to personally support the resolution's passage, underscoring the government's commitment.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries expects the conference, which typically attracts major world leaders and key business figures—including 55 heads of state/government and 15,000 participants at the previous 3rd UNOC in Nice, France—to contribute significantly to the local economy of the host city, which will be selected through a public competition.
Seoul plans to use the UNOC as a platform to position itself as a global oceans powerhouse and promote its technologies, industries, and policy initiatives related to the sustainable use of marine resources. The operational details, including the conference bureau composition, will be finalized in consultation with Chile and UN member states.
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