INVITATION

Now in its 11th edition, the symposium will explore the theme “Botanical Imagination in the Age of AI” beginning with a keynote address by film director Ildiko Enyedi and bringing together diverse perspectives for discussion. We warmly invite you to the 2026 Seoul Botanic Park International Symposium.

In an era of rapid advances in AI and technology, we will take a fresh look at the relationship between plants and humans and explore the future of biodiversity and new possibilities for botanical gardens. We look forward to your participation in this meaningful exchange through presentations and discussions.

SEOUL BOTANIC PARK

Day 1 - Oct. 30 (Fri)

• 10:00 - 12:30 | Film Screening: Silent Friend
• 13:30 - 13:50 | Opening Remarks & Introduction of Guests
• Session 1: Botanical Imagination and Artistic Resonance
  • 14:00 - 14:30 | Keynote: Ildiko Enyedi (Film Director, Hungary)
  • 14:30 - 14:50 | Soyo Lee (Visual Artist)
  • 14:50 - 15:40 | Film Talk
• Session 2: Biodiversity and Advanced Technology: The Future Opened by Botanical Gardens
  • 16:00 - 16:20 | Werner Voigt (Former Senior Garden Manager, Kirstenbosch Nat’l Botanical Garden / Current Garden Manager, Karoo Desert Nat’l Botanical Garden, South Africa)
  • 16:20 - 16:40 | Byung-Ki Ahn (Director, Korea National Arboretum)
  • 16:40 - 17:00 | Bay Chin Loo (Senior Director Digital Transformation & IT, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore)
  • 17:00 - 17:20 | Su-Jin Ohn (Director, Seoul Botanic Park)
• Session 3: General Discussion
  • Moderator: Prof. Kyung-Jin Zoh (Seoul National University Graduate School of Environmental Studies)
  • 17:30 - 18:30 | General Discussion

Day 2 - Oct. 31 (Sat)

• 10:00 - 12:30 | Film Screening: Silent Friend
• 14:00 - 15:30 | Talk Show with Poet Tae-Joo Na
  • Moderator: Prof. Jong-Yoon Kim (Korea University)
  • Panelists: Tae-Joo Na (Poet), Tae-Im Heo, Ph.D. (Baekdudaegan National Arboretum - BDNA)