The 9th Megacity Think Tank Alliance (MeTTA) General Assembly and Forum
Date: September 29 – October 1, 2025
Venue: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) & Gangnam COEX
Theme: Megacity in Global Transition: Toward a Sustainable, Inclusive, and Resilient Urban Future
Program
SEPTEMBER 28. Arrival & Welcome Reception
Venue: Novotel Dongdaemun, 20F
- Individual transfer from airport to hotel (Check-in from 15:00)
- 17:30–18:30 Welcome Reception
SEPTEMBER 29. MeTTA General Assembly & Network Dinner
MeTTA General Assembly
Venue: DDP SEOUL-ON (2F, DDP Design Lab)
- 09:30–10:00 MeTTA Tea Reception (Host: President of SI)
- 10:00–11:40 MeTTA General Assembly (Closed-door high-level meeting among members)
- 12:00–16:30 Participate in Metropolis Event (Metropolis 40th Anniversary Seoul Congress 2025)
- - Networking Lunch hosted by SMG (DDP Art Hall 2)
- - Opening Ceremony (DDP Art Hall 1)
- - Parallel Sessions (DDP Art Hall 1, Conference Hall, SEOUL-ON Studio, Design Lab)
MeTTA Network Dinner
Venue: Novotel Dongdaemun, 21F
- 17:30–19:30 Network Dinner
SEPTEMBER 30. MeTTA Forum & Expert Meeting
Expert Meeting at the Seoul Institute
Venue: #201, The Seoul Institute (Seocho HQ)
Theme: Urban Planning (Seoul 2040, urban regeneration plans, waterfront development, etc.)
- 09:00–10:30 Knowledge Exchange among participants
MeTTA Forum
Venue: COEX Conference Hall E3–4 (3F)
Host/Organizer: The Seoul Institute / MeTTA (Megacity Think Tank Alliance)
- 13:00–13:30 Registration (Open to Public)
- 13:30–14:15 Opening Ceremony & Keynote Address
- Opening Remarks
• Mr. Kyun OH, President of Seoul Institute
- Welcome Remarks
• Seoul Council (TBD)
• Dr. Dong-il YOOK, President of Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (KRILA)
- Keynote Speech
• Dr. Nicolas BAUQUET, Director General of Institut Paris Region (IPR)
• Title: Planning for Megacities in Transition: Takeaways from the Paris Region
- 14:15–15:55 Session 1
- Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning & Design (BICP)
• Ms. CHEN Dongdong, Engineer of Urban Renewal Plan Department
• Title: Urban Regeneration for a More Inclusive and Livable City Life: Insights from Beijing and Beyond
- Ho Chi Minh Institute for Development Studies (HIDS)
• Mr. VU Chi Kien, Vice Director
• Title: Strategic Orientation for Developing Ho Chi Minh City's Transport System after Merger
- Seoul Institute (SI)
• Dr. Seung Hyun MIN, Senior Research Fellow
• Title: The Next Phase of Seoul: Reimagining the Future Beyond Aging Infrastructure
- Mori Memorial Foundation (MMF)
• Mr. Norio YAMATO, Vice Senior Chief Researcher
• Title: Postwar Development of Tokyo and the Transition of Urban Power
- Shanghai Urban Planning & Design Research Institute (SUPDRI)
• Ms. ZOU Yu, Deputy Director of the Master Planning Branch
• Title: Anchoring Structure, Resilient Inclusion—Planning and Construction Practices of the Shanghai Green Belt
- Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP)
• Dr. Syafiee SHUID, Chairman of Research and Education Committee
• Title: Core–Periphery Dynamics in Metropolitan Development: A Spatial-Economic Analysis of Kuala Lumpur And Sepang District
- Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI)
• Dr. Montaser HIYARI, Director of Capacity Development
• Title: Bridging Regions, Shaping Cities: Insights from the Arab Region
- Discussion
• Moderator: Mr. Rafael Forero, MetroHub Program Officer, UN-Habitat
- 15:55–16:15 Break
- 16:15–17:55 Session 2
- Incheon Institute (II)
• Dr. Joon HAN, Head, Climate Policy Research Team, Incheon Carbon Neutrality Research Support Center
• Title: Incheon City's Climate Change Response Strategies
- ICLEI East Asia Secretariat
• Mr Shu ZHU, Regional Director
• Title: Reflection on Urban Resilience in Mega Cities
- Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (KRILA)
• Dr. Young-ju KANG, Research Fellow
• Title: Social Value of Local Governments: The Case of the Seoul Climate Companion Card
- Singapore Center for Liveable Cities (CLC)
• Ms Geraldyne HOW, Senior Assistant Director, Research
• Title: Future Central Business Districts: Singapore and Global Perspectives
- Busan Development Institute (BDI)
• Dr. Jungjae JANG, Director of Economic and Industrial Research Office
• Title: Prospects of Industrial Shifts in the Great Green Transition and Busan’s Challenges
- Nikken Sekkei Research Institute (NSRI)
• Dr. Keon Hee MIN, Senior Consultant
• Title: “Walkability Index": Japan's New Urban Policy Indicator for measuring Area Competitiveness Integrated with Location Optimization Policy, QoL, TOD, and Compact & Network Strategies
- Hanoi Urban Planning Institute (HUPI)
• Dr. LE Chinh Truc, Vice Director
• Title: Toward a Green, Culturally Enduring, and Climate Resilient Capital: Vision and Strategy in the Hanoi Masterplan
- Discussion
• Moderator: Dr. Junyong CHOI, Director of Center for External Collaborative Research, Seoul Institute
- 17:55–18:00 Closing Remarks
Bus Arrangements provided by SI – SEPTEMBER 30.
- 08:00–09:00 Novotel Dongdaemun → Seoul Institute (Seocho HQ)
- 09:30–12:00 Novotel Dongdaemun → Seoul Institute (Seocho HQ) → COEX
- 18:30–19:30 COEX → Novotel Dongdaemun
OCTOBER 1. Site Visit by SMG(Parallel)
- 09:00–11:30 The 5th Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2025 (Novotel Dongdaemun → Songhyeon Green Plaza)
- 08:00–11:30 Garden Show + Hangang River Bus (Novotel Dongdaemun → Hangang Bus → Boramae Park)
- 08:00–11:30 Attractive city Seoul: K-pop Demon Hunters Tour (Novotel Dongdaemun → Naksan Park → Gyeongdong Market → Myeongdong)