The Asan Nuclear Forum is an annual gathering of some 200 leading nuclear experts and policy analysts from around the world. The Forum will feature four plenary sessions and 18 panels over two days.

The Asan Nuclear Forum 2013

In terms of both timing and location the Asan Nuclear Forum 2013 is designed to maximize its impact on the unfolding conversation on global nuclear problems and challenges. The agenda of this forum holds particular significance for the Northeast Asian region. In the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the region faces decreasing public confidence in the safety of nuclear facilities yet there is increasing support for nuclear disarmament and for the strengthening of the nonproliferation regime because of the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

Considering the problems that remain and the new challenges that are now emerging this forum will address whether nuclear energy will continue to be a viable energy source in the future and whether we can truly achieve a “world free of nuclear weapons.” What are the challenges that global leaders must confront in terms of nuclear policy and technological developments? What choices will they make? These are some of the questions that will inform the discussions, debates and analyses during the Forum.

Discussion Format

The conversational format of the Forum is intended to maximize interaction among panelists and participants. Parallel break-out sessions and intimate lunch sessions in small groups will provide further opportunity for in-depth discussion and networking.

There are four plenary sessions and 18 regular sessions scheduled throughout the conference and each session is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Sessions will have one moderator and three to five speakers. Each speaker will present their talking points for roughly 8-10 minutes. After the presentations, the panelists will engage in a lively discussion followed by a short question and answer session.