1) Academic Excellency

Academic excellency is the most important aspect of symposia for professional societies. We will adhere to the superb tradition of academic excellence of past ISRM congresses. At the same time, we will strive to strike a balance between traditional and emerging subjects in organizing the academic program. We will make efforts to provide more opportunities to mid-career members seeking professional growth. In addition to traditional Congress proceedings collected by national groups, we will hold numerous mini symposia on topical issues in order to provide swifter and the most up-to-date professional interactions. Tentative programs and ideas that can be included in the proposed Congress are as follows:

2) Tailor-made Industry Programs

We will make conscientious efforts to include the rock engineering and geomechanics industry in the event. A job fair will provide an excellent opportunity fot the industry as well as both young and mature professionals. We will seek both national and international industry members to sponsor various functions to maximize their visibility. Special industry oriented events will be prepared to honor the specific needs in different industry sectors. Tentative programs and ideas that can be included in the Congress are as follows:

3) Early Career and Senior Members’ Activities

Symposia provide opportunities to raise the next generation and share the lessons learned by the current generation. The ISRM National Group of Korea is proud to be a long-standing proponent of students’ activities included in past ISRM symposia. We initiated the first students’ night and an extensive scholarship program at the 7th Asian Rock Mechanics Symposium in 2012. The Rocha Medalist exhibition, Young Female Scholars’ Luncheon, and recent PhD thesis poster exhibition are other successful examples that the Korean National Group introduced during the Young Scholars’ Rock Mechanics Symposium in 2017. We also hosted eight Emerging Scientists Plenary Lectures during CouFrac2020 which were highly successful. We will continue the tradition of promoting young and early career members’ activities in the ISRM Congress. We realize that there is no female ISRM fellows out of thirty six and we will strive to foster future female leaders through creative programs. Tentative programs and ideas for early career members that can be included in the Congress are as follows:

By nature, senior members’ role in rock mechanics is critical, and we will arrange a special honorary program for our senior members. We will prepare programs that can allow for active participation from senior members, and effective interaction with future generation.

Tentative senior members programs are as follows:

4) ISRM Expansion Initiatives

As of 2020, we have around 8620 individual members and 61 National Groups in ISRM. We are hoping that 2027 ISRM Congress can become a platform for expansion of ISRM.

The Congress is undoubtedly the most important ISRM event. We will maximize the visibility of ISRM through the Congress and make the best use of this opportunity to expand the ISRM individual and national group memberships. In close consultation with ISRM board members, we plan to provide various scholarly and financial supports to underrepresented nations in rock mechanics and rock engineering.
In addition to the traditional keynote lecture series from sister societies represented by FedIGS, we will make more substantial interdisciplinary programs to interact with areas of engineering geology, soil mechanics, and hydrogeology.
Tentative programs and ideas that can be included in the Congress are as follows:

1) Korea at a Glance

The Korean Peninsula is located in Northeast Asia. It is surrounded by the ocean on three sides, making it a unique geographical location. With Seoul as its capital city, the landsite is roughly 1,030 km (612 miles) long and 175 km (105 miles) wide at its narrowest point. Total land area of Korea is 100,033 square km, neighboring Japan to the east, China to the west, and Democratic Hanguel, the best Korean invention of all time People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)to the north. The total population of Korea is approximately 52 million as of August 2020 with most Koreans residing in the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, refers to the series of letters that form the syllables with which the Korean language is written. History states that King Sejong, the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty, sponsored and helped with the scientific creation of the alphabet in the 15th century.
Hanbok is the traditional outfit of the Korean people. Mordern Koreans wear this outfit only on festive days or special anniversaries; however, it was worn daily until just 100 years ago. It is still used as casual wear in villages or districts such as Chunghak-dong where the traditional ways of life are still maintained.

2) Imagine Your Korea, the Land of Morning Calm

With a more than 5,000 year history, from its very first nation to the 21st century, Korea has been a country full of vibrant colors and positive energy. Following its miraculous development over the last 50 years, Korea is now a modernized dynamic nation that still maintains its traditional culture. Every year, approximately 10 million foreign tourists visited South Korea, making it the 20th most visited country in the world, up from 8.5 million in 2010. Modern day Korea, with its trendy K-pop of Gangnam Style, is a great place for touring, shopping, and entertainment but

this country is also rich in history. Korea has twelve sites listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, Historical Villages of Korea – Hahoe and Yangdong, Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, Haeinsa, and Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes.