An international gathering of public diplomacy institutions, the Global Public Diplomacy Network (GPDNet) held its second assembly meeting on May 21–22 at the Haevichi Hotel and Resort Jeju. Established in October 2014 under the KF’s direction, GPDNet is an initiative that involves progressive institutions of public diplomacy that work for the global community. Network membership currently comprises institutions of public diplomacy from 10 nations: Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Turkey, Sweden, Nigeria, Hungary, Poland, and Portugal.
This year’s congregation focused on the topic “Culture, Millenium Goals, and beyond 2015,” opening a discussion on how culture and the arts can contribute to the U.N.’s Millennium Development Goals, as well as post-2015 ives. GPDNet members have initiated various social and cultural projects to garner public interest for world issues such as ensuring environmental sustainability, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, and eradicating extreme poverty. This year’s assembly meeting allowed organizations from Poland, Korea, and the Philippines to report on their respective projects. Poland’s Adam Mickiewicz Institute introduced its network of Migrating Schools that work to eliminate child illiteracy, and the Philippines’ National Commission for Culture and the Arts detailed its social movement to preserve the idea of a community of Asian nations. The KF prepared a presentation on its culture and arts projects for children in developing nations, such as its choir exchange program and art sessions.
Member organizations also reached agreements on the Charter, hosts for future assembly meetings, and the network’s first joint project. Meetings for 2016 and 2017 are scheduled to be held in Poland and Turkey, respectively, and the first joint project will be a circulating photo exhibit concerning environmental sustainability.
This year’s assembly meeting was held in connection with the 10th Jeju Peace Forum which attracted over 4,000 opinion leaders from both Korea and abroad, and boosted public awareness surrounding GPDNet. The KF has high hopes for GPDNet, the first international network for public diplomacy, as its cultural contributions to the achievement of U.N. development goals are expected to not only establish the network as a U.N. partner, but open the doors for greater future involvement.