Busan, the Port of Books and Knowledge, to Become the Center of the Library World in 2026... Secures Hosting of World Library and Information Congress

First WLIC in Korea in 20 Years Since Seoul
Busan Strengthens Its Reputation as a Library City

Busan City (Mayor Park Hyungjoon) has successfully secured the hosting rights for the '2026 World Library and Information Congress (WLIC)', the world's largest library event.

This event is organized by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), which has over 1,700 member libraries from 150 countries. In Korea, it will be held for the first time in 20 years since it was last hosted in Seoul in 2006.

The WLIC is a global platform for knowledge exchange that brings together more than 5,000 library professionals, information experts, policymakers, and scholars from around the world every year. The congress addresses global issues such as access to information, digital transformation, the use of AI and the metaverse, inclusive information access, and bridging the information gap.

The 2026 event will take place from August 10 to 13 over four days at BEXCO and various libraries throughout Busan. It will feature academic presentations, sectional meetings, and business meetings. The total budget is set at 5 billion KRW, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Library Association, and Busan City co-hosting the event.

This achievement is the result of IFLA's high evaluation of Busan's experience in hosting international events and its robust MICE infrastructure. During the bidding process, the city highlighted its capacity for large-scale international events such as the Busan International Film Festival, art fairs, and e-sports, as well as its library and cultural ecosystem, including the National Assembly Busan Library and Busan Library. Unique reading programs exclusive to Busan, such as 'Deullak Nallak' Library and Sea Library, also received positive feedback.

Mayor Park Hyungjoon stated, "In Busan, the port of knowledge that connects books, cities, and people, we will set a new standard for WLIC."

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