2027 Seoul World Youth Festival "Focus on the Spirit of Martyrs... Will Also Request North Korea's Participation"

2027 Seoul Hosting
Program Focused on the Spirit of Martyrs' Sacrifice
Pope's Visit Mass Expected to Draw 800,000 Attendees
Efforts to Encourage Even a Few North Korean Participants

“Asia, Korea, Seoul” On August 6th, during the sending Mass held in Lisbon, Portugal, Pope Francis announced Seoul as the host city for the 2027 World Youth Day (WYD). With an estimated crowd of up to 800,000 people (according to the Archdiocese of Seoul), including 300,000 to 400,000 foreign visitors, Korea has been designated as the venue for this international event, marking the beginning of a four-year preparation process.

A committee will be formed to oversee the entire event, and discussions with the Vatican will finalize the event’s theme, venue, and other details. The event will be nationwide. The diocesan days, held for five days before the main event, will accommodate young people from various countries visiting Korea in a homestay format through Catholic dioceses across the country. Each diocese plans to operate programs that allow participants to experience local Korean culture and faith.

Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul [Photo by Seo Mideum]

The program will focus on the spirituality of the martyrs, which is considered the root of Korean Catholicism. In the history of global Catholicism, Korea is unique as a country that embraced the Gospel on its own. In 1784, Lee Seung-hoon, the first Catholic in Joseon, traveled to Beijing, China, to receive baptism. Although Catholicism grew domestically afterward, many martyrs emerged through persecutions such as the Shinyu Persecution (1801), Gihae Persecution (1839), Byeong-o Persecution (1846), and Byeong-in Persecution (1866). To date, the Vatican has canonized 103 Korean martyrs. The Archdiocese of Seoul announced plans to emphasize this martyr spirit in the program.

At a press conference held on the morning of the 22nd at the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, Archbishop Jeong Soon-taek, head of the Archdiocese of Seoul, stated, “The core truth of the martyr’s spirituality is self-sacrifice. I believe this has influenced the entire society. It will lead people beyond self-seeking to contemplate greater and eternal values.” He added, “The process of re-examining the spirituality and lives of the martyrs will be a turning point for communal experience, accompanied by a new emphasis on ‘listening’ and ‘sacrifice.’” In this regard, several local governments are reportedly moving to establish Catholic holy sites. However, the Archdiocese of Seoul emphasized that the focus will be on re-examining the spirituality of the martyrs who lived lives of sacrifice, rather than increasing the number of physical holy sites.

The main event will then be held in Seoul for six days. The estimated 400,000 foreign visitors will be accommodated in church facilities such as cathedrals, retreat centers, and auditoriums, as well as school auditoriums arranged with the cooperation of local governments. Archbishop Jeong said, “Although we have experience and know-how from three previous papal visits to Korea, there are many unpredictable variables to prepare for. Since tens of thousands of young people, who will be the future leaders of their countries, will experience the beauty and warmth of Korean culture and return home, the understanding and cooperation of all citizens are necessary.”

With Pope Francis, who has expressed his intention to visit North Korea several times, now visiting Korea, efforts will also be made to encourage North Korea’s participation. Archbishop Jeong explained, “We aim for young people from all countries to participate. It would be good if North Korea also joins. Considering the current situation, it is difficult to predict, but we plan to make contact so that at least a few North Korean youths can participate.”

WYD began in 1986 in Rome, Italy, to commemorate the proclamation of World Youth Day in 1985. At that time, 300,000 people gathered, exceeding expectations, and there was a demand for a continuous experiential platform led by youth. As a result, Pope John Paul II decided to hold the event every two to three years. Notably, the sending Mass is presided over by the Pope himself during his visit to the host country. The upcoming WYD will mark the fourth papal visit to Korea in history.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.