South Korea’s unification ministry has defended its all-male speaker lineup for a high-profile conference on North Korea issues next month, after experts and journalists raised concerns about the absence of women. 

All 18 speakers scheduled to participate in the 2024 Global Korea Forum in Seoul on Sept. 3 are men, according to the official website, with no female experts scheduled to take the stage during the annual conference at the five-star Lotte Hotel.

In response to NK Newsquestions, the ministry said that “due to various reasons, including attendance at academic conferences, teaching commitments, and personal circumstances, many female experts