South Korean Leaders Highlight Democracy at Record-Breaking IPSA World Congress
Publication date: Mon, 18 Aug 2025
Photo (left to right): Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Kim Minseok with Kim Dae-jung Award recipient T.V. Paul and IPSA President Pablo Oñate.
The 2025 IPSA World Congress of Political Science, held from 12 to 16 July 2025 at the Coex Convention Center in Seoul, South Korea, drew a record-breaking 3,370 participants under the theme Resisting Autocratization in Polarized Societies. Organized in partnership with the Korean Political Science Association and the broader Asian social science community, the 2025 World Congress underscored IPSA’s mission to foster inclusive and global scholarly engagement. Delegates from 95 countries presented 3,053 papers in 776 panels. The Congress also featured four plenary sessions and six award sessions. The top ten countries by number of participants were South Korea (387), the United States (328), India (314), Japan (299), Poland (139), Germany (138), the United Kingdom (127), Taiwan (123), and both Canada and the Philippines with 119 participants each.
Beyond its academic success, the 2025 World Congress will be remembered for the high-profile participation of distinguished South Korean leaders, including President Lee Jae Myung, Prime Minister Kim Minseok, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik.
Opening Plenary by Ban Ki-moon
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed participants of the 2025 IPSA World Congress in a plenary on Liberal Democracy, Multilateralism and Global Citizenship. In his presentation, Mr. Ban reflected on the founding vision of the United Nations—a world free of war, guided by peace, security, economic development, and human rights. Chaired by WC2025 Program Co-Chair Irasema Coronado, the plenary address was followed by a lively question-and-answer session, after which participants had the opportunity to come on stage and take photos with the former Secretary-General.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers his plenary address.
Ban Ki-moon and Program Co-Chair Irasema Coronado during the Q&A session.
Photo (from left to right): Euiyoung Kim (WC2025 Local Organizing Committee Co-Chair), Dianne Pinderhughes (IPSA Past President), Ban Ki-moon (Former UN Secretary-General), Pablo Oñate (IPSA Past President), Irasema Coronado (WC2025 Program Co-Chair), and Kim Fontaine-Skronski (IPSA Executive Director).
Opening Remarks by President Lee Jae Myung
The highlight of the Congress was the participation of the President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae Myung, in the Opening Ceremony. In his welcoming remarks, President Myung greeted the IPSA World Congress delegates and delivered a powerful message on the resilience of democracy, describing South Korea’s democratic model as a “beacon” for people around the world. President Myung emphasized that “the only way to triumph over any threat to democracy is with more democracy,” urging global solidarity to build a new democratic order grounded in freedom, equality, and solidarity. The Opening Ceremony also included a live performance of Mugo by the National Dance Company.
President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae Myung, addresses the delegates of the IPSA World Congress.
President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jae Myung, addresses the delegates of the IPSA World Congress.
Euiyoung Kim (Co-Chair of the WC2025 Local Organizing Committee), Lee Jae-myung (President of the Republic of Korea), and Pablo Oñate (IPSA President).
Photo (left to right): Euiyoung Kim (Co-Chair of the WC2025 Local Organizing Committee), Pablo Oñate (IPSA Past President), Ajin Choi (Co-Chair of the WC2025 Local Organizing Committee), Yuko Kasuya (IPSA President), and
Lee Jae Myung (President of the Republic of Korea).
The National Dance Company of Korea.
Prime Minister Kim Minseok Addresses the Kim Dae-jung Award Roundtable
High-level participation from South Korean political leaders continued on the second day of the Congress with the 2025 Kim Dae-jung Award Roundtable. The event opened with a speech by Korean Prime Minister Kim Minseok, who reflected on the legacy of former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung. He emphasized Kim Dae-jung’s unwavering commitment to democracy, human rights, and peace, and praised the award’s recipient, T.V. Paul, for his outstanding achievements in the field of international relations. Following the roundtable, an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between IPSA and the Kim Dae-jung Foundation. The agreement, which formalizes the establishment of the Kim Dae-jung Award, was signed by IPSA President Pablo Oñate and Kwon Noh-Gap, Chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Foundation.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea Kim Minseok with Kim Dae-jung Award recipient T.V. Paul and IPSA President Pablo Oñate.
Kim Minseok, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, addresses delegates at the IPSA World Congress.
The official MoU signing ceremony between IPSA and the Kim Dae-jung Foundation took place following the roundtable discussion. The agreement regarding the Kim Dae-jung Award was signed by IPSA President Pablo Oñate and Kwon Noh-Gap, Chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Foundation.
Closing Remarks by Speaker of the Korean National Assembly Woo Won-shik
The Closing Ceremony of the 2025 IPSA World Congress, sponsored by the Korean National Assembly, featured official remarks from the Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-shik, the Ambassador of Italy in Korea Emilia Gatto, as well as IPSA representatives and members of the 2025 and 2027 Local Organizing Committees. The ceremony concluded with the symbolic passing of the IPSA flag from Seoul to the next host city, Rome, and a vibrant music performance by E_SANG, a group of young traditional Korean musicians.
Woo Won-shik (Speaker of the National Assembly) delivers remarks at the Closing Ceremony of the 2025 IPSA World Congress.
H.E. Emilia Gatto, Ambassador of Italy in Korea
The IPSA Congress flag was officially passed from Seoul (#IPSA2025) to Rome (#IPSA2027) during the Closing Ceremony.
Photo (left to right): Kim Fontaine-Skronski, Euiyoung Kim, Ajin Choi, Pablo Oñate, Yuko Kasuya, Raffaele Marchetti, Fortunato Musella.
The IPSA Executive Committee members and the WC2025 Local Organizing Committee members at the Closing Ceremony on 16 July.
The Closing Ceremony concluded with a vibrant music performance by Gugak-Isang, a group of young traditional Korean musicians.
