A major policy exchange and academic event in the field of space environment involving around 40 UN member countries is set to take place in South Korea two years from now, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) on the 17th. The event is the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI), which concluded on the 14th in Noistrellitz, Germany, and Korea has been confirmed as the host country for the 13th ISWI in 2026.
Established in 2009 by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), ISWI aims to enhance understanding of space environment, manage various space weather effects, and promote international collaboration.
ISWI typically holds academic events every two years, rotating among different countries. This year in Germany, over 250 space environmental researchers and officials from various space agencies participated in sharing research findings and discussing cooperation measures in space environment.
The 13th ISWI event to be hosted by Korea is scheduled to be held in Seoul from May 25 to 29, 2026, under the theme of “Solar Activity Maximum – International Community Response,” where the latest research results and technologies on space weather disaster response will be shared.
KARI’s Space Environment Center has been working closely with the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute and the Seoul Tourism Foundation prior to the establishment of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, in preparation for attracting the ISWI event in 2026.
The Space Environment Center has been in charge of overall tasks related to attracting the event, while the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute supported attraction through the use of international research networks and academic exchanges, and the Seoul Tourism Foundation provided support for attraction strategies, consulting, and promotional activities.
With the opportunity of attracting ISWI, KARI aims to enhance Korea’s international standing in the field of space environment, activate academic exchanges, and expand cooperation on space technology policies between countries.
Na Hyun-jun, Director of the Space Environment Center, said, “We will prepare and carry out the event substantively to promote South Korea’s space environment research and forecasting capabilities globally, establish Korea as a leading country in the field of space environment, and cooperate with relevant organizations to achieve this goal.”
[Photo Source: Yonhap News]
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