The 18th World Knowledge Forum (WKF), the largest business forum in Asia where more than 250 worldly renowned figures will gather to share their insights on political, economic, social and cultural issues facing the global community, will open on October 17 at Jangchung Arena, The Shilla hotel in central Seoul.

Under the theme of “Inflection Point: Towards New Prosperity,” the annual forum hosted by South Korea’s largest business media Maekyung Media Group will offer fresh perspectives to audiences in seven tracks with about 100 sessions for three days until October 19.

Former French President Francois Hollande, who will speak on international challenges and opportunities facing the world, Arancha Gonzalez, executive director of the International Trade Centre and Thierry de Montbrial, executive chairman of French Institute of International Relations(Ifri) arrived Seoul on Sunday for the forum.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State, will deliver the keynote address on the second day of the event, October 18, and Reince Priebus, U.S. President Donald Trump`s former White House chief of staff, will speak about the Trump administration and the direction of the U.S.

Other leading global political figures and business moguls who will attend this year’s WKF include Enrico Letta, former prime minister of Italy; Mari Kiviniemi, OECD deputy secretary-general; Zhang Yaqin, president of Baidu Inc.; and Amnon Shashua, chief executive officer of Mobileye. They will speak on international challenges and opportunities facing the world.

Moreover, Harvard economist Oliver Hart, one of the 2016 Nobel laureates in economics, will share his insights on economics in a new era, while MIT Professor and 1997 Nobel laureate Robert Merton will introduce changes in the global investment environment and new investment strategies. Nick Bostrom, director of Oxford Future of Humanity Institute, and other leading specialists in the fourth industrial revolution will share insights into the changes in the world.

By Ahn Byung-joon and Kim Tae-joon

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