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Manila Bulletin devider World devider World Journalists Conference 2026 opens in Seoul

World Journalists Conference 2026 opens in Seoul

Published Mar 30, 2026 09:27 am  |  Updated Mar 30, 2026 01:22 pm
The World Journalists Conference (WJC) 2026 in Seoul, South Korea (Jonathan Hicap)
The World Journalists Conference (WJC) 2026 in Seoul, South Korea (Jonathan Hicap)
Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) President Park Jong-hyun
Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) President Park Jong-hyun

SEOUL, South Korea - The World Journalists Conference (WJC) 2026 opened at the Korea Press Center in the capital city on March 30. 

A total of 42 journalists, including from the Manila Bulletin, are participating in the conference, which will run until April 3. 

The themes of this year’s conference are “Democracy and Journalism at a Crossroads: The Role of the Media in Times of Crisis” and “AI in the Newsroom: From Practice to the Next Phases.”

The WJC is organized by the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) headed by its president, Park Jong-hyun, with the support of Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Korea Press Foundation. 

The congratulatory address was made by Lee Kyu Youn, senior secretary to the president for public relations and communication. 
Lee Kyu Youn, senior secretary to the president for public relations and communication, delivering his congratulatory address at the World Journalists Conference 2026 on March 30 in Seoul (Jonathan HIcap)
Lee Kyu Youn, senior secretary to the president for public relations and communication, delivering his congratulatory address at the World Journalists Conference 2026 on March 30 in Seoul (Jonathan HIcap)

In his opening address, Park said, “Since 2013, the Journalists Association of Korea has hosted the World Journalists Conference annually, bringing together journalists from around the world to discuss journalism and global issues. This process has not merely been a record of events, but a sustained effort to deepen mutual understanding.” 

He added, “The World Journalists Conference is a platform to address the questions of our time. The world we face today is increasingly unsettled. Conflicts in the Middle East, including the situation involving Iran, remain deeply entrenched, and the long shadow of war continues to loom. Misinformation and hate speech are spreading across borders, and democracy is facing profound challenges.” 

“It is in times like these that we must act with greater clarity and precision in fulfilling our role. Above all, we must maintain a warm and attentive focus on the people we serve,” he said. 

Park said, “This Conference is a forum where we seek that path together. Under the theme ‘Democracy and Journalism at a Crossroads: The Role of the Media in Times of Crisis,’ we will reflect on the role of the media in navigating an era of crisis.”

“We may live in different languages, cultures, religions and beliefs. Yet our commitment to truth, and our shared dedication to freedom and peace, remain the same,” he said. 

Conference I, “Democracy and Journalism at a Crossroads: The Role of the Media in Times of Crisis” was moderated by Lee Joo-hee, managing editor of The Korea Herald.

The speakers were Daniel Bastard from France, Asia-Pacific director, Courrier International; Felix Lill from Germany, correspondent, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland; Kim Eun-ji from Korea, chief political editor, SisalN; and Pattraporn Paibulsin from Thailand, head of Foreign News, Daily News.

Conference II, “Al in the Newsroom: From Practice to the Next Phase,” in the afternoon will be moderated by Kim Tae-gyun, staff reporter of Yonhap News Agency. 

The speakers are Martin Georgiev of Bulgaria, member of the board of directors, Union of Bulgarian Journalists; Kaijun Zheng of China, director, Social Media Desk of International News Department, Xinhua News Agency; Woo Seung Ho of Korea, deputy director, Future & Strategy Dept, Seoul Economic Daily; and Renata Ewa Kim of Poland, journalist, Newsweek Polska.

Speaker Pattraporn Paibulsin from Thailand, head of Foreign News, Daily News (Jonathan Hicap)
Speaker Pattraporn Paibulsin from Thailand, head of Foreign News, Daily News (Jonathan Hicap)
Speaker Felix Lill from Germany, correspondent, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (Jonathan Hicap)
Speaker Felix Lill from Germany, correspondent, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (Jonathan Hicap)
Speaker Daniel Bastard from France, Asia-Pacific director, Courrier International (Jonathan Hicap)
Speaker Daniel Bastard from France, Asia-Pacific director, Courrier International (Jonathan Hicap)
Speaker Kim Eun-ji from Korea, chief political editor, SisalN; (Jonathan Hicap)
Speaker Kim Eun-ji from Korea, chief political editor, SisalN; (Jonathan Hicap)
The moderator and speakers for Conference II of the World Journalists Conference 2026 (Jonathan Hicap)
The moderator and speakers for Conference II of the World Journalists Conference 2026 (Jonathan Hicap)

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