Organizing committee of World Youth Day 2027 vows to prioritize safety

이민지 / 2026-11-05 15:03:46

World Youth Day-preparations

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul (C) and officials pose during a press conference for World Youth Day 2027, held at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul on Nov. 5, 2026. (Yonhap)

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul speaks at a press conference for World Youth Day 2027, held at Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul on Nov. 5, 2026. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- With some 500,000 people expected to take part in World Youth Day 2027 set to be held in Seoul next year, its organizing committee vowed Thursday to ensure safety.

The international gathering of Catholic youths is scheduled from Aug. 3-8 next year, with Pope Leo XIV set to visit South Korea for the first time since taking office last year. It will mark the first time the event is taking place in a country where Catholicism is not the dominant religion.

Some 400,000 participants from about 190 countries, joined by 100,000 domestic participants, are expected to register for the pilgrimage, the event's organizing committee said at a press conference.

As of Thursday, nearly 82,000 participants had registered since registration opened in late October.

Some 3,000 journalists, 13,000 Catholic bishops and priests, as well as 20,000 volunteers are also expected to take part.

Most of the event -- including the opening Mass and a welcome event for the pope -- will take place at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul, while an all-night prayer vigil and farewell Mass will be held at Seoul Air Base, south of Seoul.

Given the large number of crowds and the summer heat, organizers said they will strengthen safety measures, including crowd management and sufficient supply of rest areas and water.

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul urged Catholic youths to have courage to meet and embrace each other in what he called a fragmented era, noting how young people are constantly pressured to be perfect and prove themselves.

"World Youth Day is a celebration in which the pope invites young people from around the world," Chung said. "As they walk and pray together and listen to each others' stories, they will be able to genuinely meet one another ... as human beings."

At Thursday's press conference, the organizing committee also unveiled the official mascots for the gathering -- "Hobi" and "Cobi" -- and a congratulatory message from actor Kim Tae-hee, an honorary ambassador for the gathering.

Next year's event is estimated to generate an economic output of up to 3.2 trillion won (US$2.4 billion), while creating 11,000 to 16,000 jobs, according to the Korea MICE Association.

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