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Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shrine on the morning of the 15th, South Korea's National Liberation Day and the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. It marks the seventh consecutive year an incumbent Japanese cabinet minister has paid respects at the shrine. / Yonhap

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense will host the 2026 Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) from September 7 to 9.

The ministry announced on the 4th that the dialogue will take place at The Grand Lotte Seoul. As a premier high-level multilateral security forum in the region, the Seoul Defense Dialogue marks its 15th iteration this year since being elevated to a ministerial-level forum in 2023.

This year, roughly 1,000 participants from 67 countries and international organizations are expected to attend, including defense ministers from four nations—the Czech Republic, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Uganda—along with vice defense ministers from six nations.

Unlike last year, Japan's defense minister will reportedly not attend the forum. Observers note that bilateral defense exchanges have chilled following current Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine last month. A defense ministry official stated that a vice-ministerial defense counselor is scheduled to attend instead of the minister.

The overarching theme of this year's dialogue is "Toward a New Coexistence in the Age of Turbulence". It reflects the goal of seeking a new international order and cooperative pathways to stably manage conflict and competition while sustaining peace amid intensifying uncertainty in the global security environment.

Following opening remarks by Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back on the 8th, three plenary sessions and four special sessions will be held. The plenary sessions will cover co-designing a stable international order, the evolution of alliances and partnerships, and the defense industry ecosystem alongside global supply chain resilience. All plenary panels will consist primarily of ministerial and vice-ministerial officials from participating nations.

The special sessions feature panels comprising civilian security experts and select government officials to facilitate in-depth discussions on security issues drawing intense global focus. The themes of the special sessions include new approaches to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as fractures and cooperation in the maritime order.

Working groups covering key issues in cyber and space security will take place on the 7th. The Space Security Working Group will address international cooperation for AI-based space operations and enhancing space resilience, while the Cyber Working Group will explore lessons learned from modern warfare. On the 9th, two special sessions will be held concurrently, focusing on the shifting paradigm of warfare and solidarity and cooperation for recovery and reconstruction.

A defense ministry official stated, "Through this event, we expect to collectively explore pathways for new coexistence to ensure peace and stability amid a rapidly changing international security environment, while also elevating South Korea's standing as it pursues pragmatic diplomacy rooted in national interest."

                                                                                                             Lee Han-sol