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Busan Hosts the 10th Our Ocean Conference — A Global Commitment to Sustainable Oceans

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) will host the 10th Our Ocean Conference (OOC) at BEXCO from April 28 to 30, gathering global ocean leaders to commit to protecting our oceans and ensuring sustainable use of marine resources.

Launched by the U.S. State Department in 2014, the OOC has become a premier global platform for actionable marine commitments, emphasizing voluntary pledges and collaborative governance. This year’s conference, the first held in Asia, is particularly meaningful as it marks the OOC’s 10th anniversary.

Under the slogan “Our Ocean, Our Action,” the 2025 OOC highlights collective responsibility and introduces a special theme, Digital Oceans, in line with Busan’s marine tech-driven strategies.

Conference Highlights:

• ●Participants: Over 2,300 attendees from more than 100 countries, including ministers, UN ocean envoys, international organizations, NGOs, and industry leaders

• ●Program: Opening/closing ceremonies, plenary sessions, panel discussions, exhibitions, youth summit, and city-hosted receptions

• ●Special Theme (Busan): Digital Oceans — showcasing smart ocean technologies and data-driven marine policy

Busan’s Key Contributions:

During the “Digital Oceans” plenary session on April 30, Busan will announce a set of proactive marine pledges:

• ●Joint research using nanosatellites to monitor marine fine dust (initially pledged at the 8th OOC in Panama)

• ●AI-based smart marine environment management platform

• ●Construction of eco-friendly hybrid-powered marine cleanup vessels

These commitments reflect Busan’s ambition to lead as a low-carbon green city and establish its global leadership in marine sustainability through digital innovation.

On April 29, Mayor Park will deliver a keynote at the city-hosted welcome ceremony, titled “Global Maritime Hub City Busan.” He will emphasize Busan’s strategic role in shaping the future of sustainable marine development and cooperation.

Growing Global Marine Leadership:

This event follows Busan’s recent history of hosting major marine environment events, including:

• ●7th International Marine Debris Conference (2022)

• ●5th Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee on the UN Plastic Treaty (2024)

• ●Upcoming PEMSEA PNLG Forum (2026)

Through these efforts, Busan is steadily reinforcing its role as a global maritime hub city and a champion of marine environmental governance.

Mayor Park concluded:
“Busan has long served as a center for maritime industries, logistics, and tourism. Now, we are expanding our vision to lead a sustainable and digitally advanced ocean future. By adding a vision for the future to our achievements so far, we will forge ahead as a next-generation maritime capital that spearheads climate resilience and marine conservation.”