Korea CEO Summit kicks off the grand event "Urban Culture Convergence Conference Vietnam 2026 (CICON Vietnam in HCMC)" in Ho Chi Minh City on the 9th~10th of this month
○ Event Name: The 15th Urban Culture Convergence Conference Vietnam 2026 (CICON Vietnam in HCMC 2026)
○ Date: April 8–10, 2026
○ Date & Venue:
(1) Apr. 8 (Wed) 17:00, Welcome Reception (Pho Museum)
(2) Apr. 9 (Thu) 08:30, CICON Opening Ceremony (JW Marriott Saigon Hotel)
(3) Apr. 9 (Thu) 18:30, Gala Show
(4) Apr. 10 (Fri) 09:00, AAC Conference
○ Theme: Sustainable Growth in an AI Era
○ Organizers: (Korea) Korea CEO Summit, CICON Organizing Committee, (Vietnam) Hanoi SME Association
○ Hosts: (Korea) The Marbles, (Vietnam) CICON Innovation, QUYNH Paris, Global E&M, VIETMISSION
○ Sponsors: (Korea) Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Asia Artpiad Committee (AAC), (Vietnam) Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam, HTV, Today TV
(Third row) Shin Chang-seok, KBS Director; Won Na-young, CEO of NY BTS; Lee Young-dae, Chairman of Postal Logistics; Park Myung-hee, Lawyer Lin (Law); Vilaysouk PHIMMASONE, National Committee Member of AAC
Laos (Fourth row); Le Van Minh, Chairman of Namsong Tien Group, Mac Quoc Anh, Central Committee Member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Vice President of the Hanoi Small and Medium Enterprises Association; Nguyen Quynh Nhu, Member of the AAC Vietnam National Committee and Chairwoman of Queen Paris; Tran Quang Lam, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction; Truong Anh Tuan, Chairman of Hoang Quan Group
(fifth row); Tommy Nguyen, Chairman of VINA T&T Group; Vincent Pham, Chairman of IOTA, Nguyen Van Thong, Chairman of Tien An Holdings; Van Pham Dang Tri, Director of the Vietnam Mekong Research Institute; Lo Giang Pao, Vice President of the Vietnam Mountain Economy Development Support
Association (sixth row); Nguyen Que Anh, CEO of Pho Museum; Bui Quang Minh, Chairman of Beta Group; Lam Chi Thien, Chairman of Today TV; Le Thi Minh Hoa, Chairwoman of IWEC, Tran Thi Thao Nguyen, Host
Korea Summit (KCS/Chairman Park Bong-kyu) and the CICON Organizing Committee announced that they will hold the "15th CICON Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City 2026" for three days from April 8 to 10, 2026, at the JW Marriott Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
This conference, centered on 'Sustainable Growth in the AI Era,' will attract over 500~600 leaders from politics, business, and cultural arts sectors from major ASEAN countries including Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Laos, and Myanmar, to seek new business opportunities in future cities, cultural content, and technological convergence.
Park Bong-kyu, Chairman of the Korea CEO Summit and planner and organizer, introduced the purpose of this event, saying, "CICON is a global platform that not only builds smart cities but also connects cities, companies, and people through content such as cities, culture, and convergence industries."
■ Major speakers from Korea and Vietnam assemble, seeking a vision for sustainable growth in the AI era
The opening ceremony on the 9th, which kicks off the conference event, will be attended by many key figures representing Korea and Vietnam, adding to the occasion.
The organizers have requested a welcome speech from Nguyen Manh Quong, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee (responsible for the Department of Science and Technology and the Management Committee of the High-Tech Park), and the event will be heated up with an opening remarks by Park Bong-kyu, Chairman of the Korea Summit and founder of CICON.
The following keynote speech will focus on key strategies for 'sustainable growth in the AI era.' Lee Hee-beom, former Minister of Industry and Energy and former chairman of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics Organizing Committee, will debut as a keynote speaker and deliver a speech on 'Strategies to Achieve One Asia through Art (AAC).' Joo Young-seop, a specially appointed professor at Seoul National University and former Administrator of the Small and Medium Business Administration, will open the event on 'Strategies for the Great Industrial AI Transformation and Korea-Vietnam Cooperation.'
In Vietnam, senior officials will attend and take the stage on the topic 'Vietnam's 2026-2030 Roadmap: AI, Policy Framework.' In the following discussion, with Mac Quoc Anh, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Small and Medium Business Association, leading the discussion, former Minister of Environment Lee Man-ui, former Chairman of the Regulatory Reform Committee under President Kim Jong-seok, and Seoul National University Specially Appointed Professor Joo Young-seop will discuss 'AI and Systems: Strategies to Strengthen National Competitiveness.'
■ Heated Forum on Future Cities, Environment, and Bio Logistics
The following sessions will focus on topics such as 'smart cities' and 'digital/green transition.' Truong Anh Tuan, Chairman of Hoang Quan Group, will deliver a keynote speech on the theme 'Digital and Green Transformation for Future Cities.'
Following this, led by Vincent Pham, Chairman of IOTA Capital, Won Na-young, CEO of NY BTS (Building Total Solutions), Nguyen Van Thong, Chairman of Thien Anh Holdings, and others will present on 'AI-based smart cities and corporate competitiveness.'
The afternoon session will cover cases of AI innovation in the climate change and logistics industries. Former Minister of Environment Lee Man-ui will take charge, while Jang Seok-hwan, President of Daejin University, and Van Pham Dang Tri, Director of the Vietnam Mekong Research Institute, will appear as panelists seeking solutions under the theme 'Water Resource Management in the Mekong Basin under Climate Change: A New Horizon in Korea-Vietnam Science and Technology.'
Additionally, Tommy Nguyen, Chairman of VINA T&T Group, will deliver a keynote speech titled 'AI Innovation in Vietnamese Fruit Agriculture,' showcasing practical cases of AI technology application in Vietnam. Soon after, they will have in-depth discussions on 'applying AI to the BIO and logistics industry' with Chairman Cho Eun-kyung of Dason, Vice Chairman Han In-seok of Bioplus, and Lee Young-dae, Chairman of Postal Logistics.
■ The Revival of the Art Olympics: Strategies for Implementing Art Piano
In the latter part of the conference, under the theme 'AI in Corporate and Art Culture,' the future vision of Artpiad, emerging as a K-content and Asian cultural industry, will be highlighted. First, Lee Young-jun, AAC Planning Committee Chairman and Atrian President, will captivate the audience with the theme 'The Revival of the Art Olympics: Art Piano Implementation Strategies.' Following that, chaired by Chairman Park Bong-gyu (Chairman of AAC's Overseas Cooperation Committee), representatives of the Asia Art Piad Committee from various countries—including Lee Kwang-soo, IAA World President and AAC Executive Chair; Nguyen Quynh Nhu, Chair of QUYNH Paris and member of the AAC Vietnam Committee; Vilaysouk PHIMMASONE, Lao lawyer and member of the AAC Laos National Committee; Lam Chi Thien, President of Today TV and AAC Vietnam Advisor, took the stage to discuss the 'Revival of the Art Olympics,' The Birth of AAC.'
■ Korea-Vietnam co-production film 'Tran Hung Dao' and the grand epicic of harmony 'Gala Dinner Show'
Recently in Vietnam, films themed around General Tran Hung Dao have become a hot topic. First, Shin Chang-seok, the high-profile director who produced over 1,200 KBS TV dramas, will deliver a keynote speech on the Tran Hung Dao film. In the following 'Cultural Industry Discussion' session, led by lawyer Park Myung-hee (Law) Linh, Lo Giang Pao, Vice President of the Vietnam Mountain Economy Development Support Association; Bui Quang Minh, Chairman of Beta Group; and Nguyen Que Anh, CEO of the Pho Museum, will present in-depth discussions on 'AI in Business and Art Culture,' bringing the conference to a grand finale.
Meanwhile, after all sessions conclude, at 6:30 PM, a grand 'Gala Dinner Show' will kick off with a banquet speech by Park Bong-kyu, Chairman of Korea CEO Summit KCS. Former Minister of Environment Lee Man-ui, co-chair of CICON; Lee Hee-beom, AAC chairperson and top leader of Art Phiad; Son Jong-hyun, president of the National Cooperative Council; Nguyen Quynh Nu, chairperson of CICON Vietnam; Le Thi Minh Hoa, president of the International Women Entrepreneurs Association (IWEC); and Ly Thi Mai, PhD in applied psychology, will take the stage to deliver toasting messages.
This event, attended by over 300 key figures from the political, economic, social, and cultural sectors of Korea, Vietnam, and ASEAN countries, will feature a special stage that offers a glimpse into the essence of Vietnamese culture. In particular, this gala show, jointly planned by Korea's Korea CS Summit (KCS) and Vietnam's Global E&M, Quynh Paris, and Vietmission, will delight all the senses by blending vibrant traditional Vietnamese cultural performances and rituals with exquisite local cuisine. Through this, the leaders of both countries are expected to enjoy a solid partnership where business and culture blend beautifully, going beyond simple information exchange.
"본지에 게재된 외부 기고 및 칼럼은 필자 개인의 견해로, 본지의 편집 방향과 다를 수 있습니다."The views expressed in this column/contribution are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of this publication.""
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