Dear esteemed members of the Korean Association for Public Administration and valuable conference participants,

First and foremost, I extend my sincere gratitude to all of you for attending the 2024 Korean Association for Public Administration International Summer Conference. Your dedication and contributions to the field of public administration are highly respected and deeply appreciated.

In the post-COVID era, Korean society is experiencing rapid and profound changes in various aspects, with a notable deepening of disparities. Income and asset gaps are widening, regional disparities are leading to the phenomenon of regional extinction, and issues such as political polarization, intergenerational conflicts, information gaps, and response disparities to climate change are posing significant threats to the quality of life for our citizens. In this context, the theme of our conference, ‘Diagnosis of Korean Society’s Era and the Role of Public Administration,’ is of paramount importance. Through this conference, we aim to analyze the current situation in Korean society and discuss how public administration can contribute to addressing these challenges. We will also explore strategic directions for the future and identify administrative tasks necessary for the development of Korean society.

For this conference, we are honored to have many scholars from the United States, Europe, Japan, France, the Philippines, Indonesia, China, and other countries present diverse papers related to our theme. Notably, this conference marks a significant occasion as many scholars are participating in person for the first time since the pandemic, allowing for both academic and personal exchanges.

We have also invited H.E. Kim, Young-Rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do, to speak on the issue of regional extinction, and Professor Jung, Moo-Kwon from Yonsei University to discuss the era’s diagnosis and the role of public administration. Additionally, we have organized roundtable discussions led by past presidents of the association on the role of public administration in times of crisis, as well as planning sessions on income and asset disparities, gender gaps, and regional disparities. Given the practical nature of public administration, we have arranged sessions where members can engage in discussions with vice ministers from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and on the current issues related to the era diagnosis and the role of public administration.

Furthermore, to establish a virtuous cycle ecosystem in public administration, a series of seminars under the title “Public Administration Career Festival” has been planned for young scholars and graduate students. Sessions will cover job opportunities in domestic universities, government-run research institutes, and regional research institutes, as well as information on applying to international graduate programs, post-doc positions, and professorship positions abroad. We have also invited editors from three SSCI-ranked academic journals to explore ways to enhance cooperation with the International Review of Public Administration (IRPA) and elevate the status of IRPA. Methodology sessions on population estimation and other relevant methodologies have been prepared for this year, which can be useful in diagnosing and finding solutions to the issues of our time. Additionally, various sessions led by central government agencies, local governments, and public institutions will provide platforms to present their respective challenges and seek solutions.

Through this conference, I hope that we can share diverse perspectives and ideas on ‘Diagnosis of Korean Society’s Era and the Role of Public Administration’ and engage in meaningful discussions together. I extend my deepest gratitude once again to all participants for your active engagement. Let us discuss, learn, inspire each other, and strive towards a better future together.

Thank you.