The News1 Future Forum (NFF) is a venue hosted by the leading real-time news agency News1. Aimed at shaping a better future, the forum brings together a distinguished group of international experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs to engage in constructive dialogue.

The forum’s core objective is to present solutions for sustainable growth and prosperity by forecasting global trends and exploring strategic pathways for South Korea to navigate its most pressing challenges.

In recent years, the forum has consistently addressed the shifting tides of the global order. In 2024, under the theme "Looking for Directions: U.S. Presidential Election and 22nd National Assembly," the NFF examined the impacts of the "super election year" on the Korean Peninsula and the proactive role required of the newly formed legislature. Building on this, the 2025 forum, "Trump 2.0 & Korea: Overcoming Crisis," provided a deep dive into survival strategies amidst a potential shift in U.S. leadership and the resulting economic and diplomatic volatility.

Today, we face a turbulent era defined by a new international dynamic—the "Survival of the Fittest." The global order is being rapidly reshaped by intensifying U.S.-China rivalry, spreading regional conflicts, supply chain instability, and the fierce battle for technological hegemony. Domestically, Korea confronts a "demographic cliff" and severe regional disparities that cloud its long-term outlook.

The economic landscape remains equally challenging. With growing uncertainties, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) has warned of the negative impacts of Middle Eastern tensions on domestic growth and investment. Simultaneously, the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Physical and Agentic AI has turned the industry into a primary battlefield for national competition.

At this critical crossroads, NFF 2026 seeks to discover new growth engines and transform these multifaceted crises into opportunities. By exploring innovative strategies for economy, security, and diplomacy, the forum aims to chart a course for Korea’s future in an age increasingly dominated by global "strongmen."