Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

「Seoul Defense Dialogue 2022」

Held face-to-face after a three-year hiatus since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, broadcast live on YouTube

Under the theme ‘How to Address Complex Security Challenges: Fostering International Solidarity,’ participants discuss how to work together to maintain solidarity and cooperation between countries in a rapidly changing security situation

The Ministry of National Defense plans to hold the ｢Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2022)｣ which marks its tenth anniversary this year, at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong from September 6 (Tuesday) to September 8 (Thursday).

The Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) is a high-level multilateral security dialogue in the area of defense, which was launched in 2012 with the goal of contributing to building peace on the Korean Peninsula and enhancing security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. This year marks its tenth anniversary.

Defense officials from 54 countries and three international organizations* and about 20 civilian security experts in and outside the country will take part in this SDD, which will be the first one held face-to-face after a three-year hiatus since the outbreak of COVID-19. During the meeting, participants will have an in-depth discussion about current global security issues.

First of all, the ministry plans to enhance cooperation in the cyber and security areas and take the lead in the international community’s discussions of the new security domain through the Cyber Working Group, which is to be resumed on September 6 (Tuesday) after a three-year hiatus, and the first-ever Space Security Working Group. 

 
The opening ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday morning (9:00 AM) September 7. It will begin with Minister Lee Jong-sup’s opening remarks, which will be followed by Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon’s welcoming speech and keynote addresses by National Security Advisor Kim Sung-han and Netherlands Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren (see video).

During this year’s SDD, the participants will be looking for ways to respond jointly to today’s security environment that poses a mixture of supernational, multidisciplinary challenges, as well as the threat of a war, under the ultimate theme of ‘How to Address Complex Security Challenges: Fostering International Solidarity.’

The ministry expects that this year’s SDD will enhance global security cooperation and serve as momentum to invigorate defense exchanges and cooperation between the countries, which had been sluggish due to the COVID-19 pandemic, through face-to-face discussions.