Coping with diversifications of future
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Ahn Jong-bae, center, a Hansei University professor, and Choi Chang-sup, thrid from left, a Sogang University professor, who co-authored “We Can See the Future, Global Future 2030” attend a media conference at the Press Center, central Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Parkyoungsa
By Baek Byung-yeul
It is hard to predict the future and that often brings a high risk of inaccuracy.
Nevertheless, it needs to be done.
“We Can See the Future, Global Future 2030,” is an ambitious project that attempts to predict the future of Korea and the world compiled from the views of 26 professionals in various fields from the Global Futures Studies Association.
“It has become more and more important than ever to predict and prepare for the future because change is taking place at the speed of light,” said Ahn Jong-bae, a Hansei University professor and one of the authors, at a press conference held at the Korea Press Center, Wednesday.
The book aims to contribute to the continuous growth and development of the nation through a future prediction of society that would allow it to cope with changes and diversification.
It deals with the future in six sectors: future megatrends; economy and management; culture and content; media, information and communication technology; government and cities; and education and medical care.
For example, Jerome Glenn, co-president of the association and director of The Millennium Project, predicts in the first chapter that within the next one or two decades, the world will confront a major crisis in which hundreds of millions of people will migrate from their country of birth to another to avoid the chaos caused by the depletion of underground water, and the rise of food, water and energy prices, and population numbers.
Therefore, he emphasizes investing in new technology such as green nanotech manufacturing, synthetic biology for medicine and energy, and that methods to solve such problems should be dealt with urgently on a national level.
Choi Chang-sup, the other author and Sogang University professor, said, "The book does not have all the answers. It is only a guide for the future. I hope readers will plan their futures after reading this."
The book is written for university freshmen and it can be used as a textbook, as it offers teaching guidelines for professors.
It is also scheduled to be published in English and in an e-book version soon.
Ahn said he hopes the whole world as well as Koreans would read it and share information together, and that it will be helpful in planning the future.
The association will hold a conference, "Global Future Megatrends," in which the authors will speak directly at the Korea Press Center on Feb. 6.