Prime Minister creates support team for 2027 Seoul World Youth Congress

The Republic of Korea will stand up a dedicated government body to prepare the 2027 Seoul World Youth Congress, after the Prime Minister issued 국무총리훈령 제951호 (Prime Minister’s Directive No. 951) on the establishment and operation of the 2027 Seoul World Youth Congress Support Team. The directive was published in the Republic of Korea Official Gazette (대한민국 관보), issue No. 21314, dated 3 September 2026, and took effect the same day.

The new Support Team is placed under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and will coordinate a whole-of-government effort across safety, transport, immigration, medical care, culture and promotion for the congress, which Seoul is due to host in 2027.

Mandate and functions

Under Article 2 of the directive, the Support Team is responsible for drawing up and implementing a comprehensive support plan for the congress, as well as sector-specific plans in key operational areas. Its duties include:

• Preparing and executing the overall support plan for the World Youth Congress;
• Drafting and implementing detailed sectoral plans for safety, transport, medical care and related fields;
• Coordinating, cooperating with and monitoring the progress of related agencies;
• Supporting culture, arts and tourism programmes linked to the congress;
• Providing promotional support for the event;
• Carrying out any other tasks needed for a successful congress.

Composition and staffing

The Support Team is headed by a single 단장 (head) and a 부단장 (deputy head), supported by its members. The head is concurrently held by the Director General of the General Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, while the deputy head is a senior civil servant of the ministry’s senior executive service designated by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The team’s members comprise:

• Officials of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;
• Civil servants seconded from related central administrative agencies and local governments;
• Additional support personnel recruited to assist the congress.

To ensure the team can operate effectively, the Minister may request the dispatch of officials from related central and local government bodies (Article 5), and the head may seek opinions from experienced officials or experts and request materials or cooperation from relevant agencies and organisations (Article 6). Supporting officials, staff and experts may receive allowances, travel expenses and other necessary costs within the budget (Article 7).

Duration and entry into force

The Support Team is a temporary body: under Article 8 it is to remain in operation until 31 October 2027, covering the run-up to and the holding of the congress. The directive’s supplementary provisions state that it applies from 3 September 2026.

The decree follows an administrative notice issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on 14 August 2026 (공고 제2026-316호), which set out the reasons for the new regulation and invited public comment under the Administrative Procedures Act.

Why it matters

By anchoring the congress’s preparation in a dedicated, cross-ministerial support team, the government is signalling that the 2027 Seoul World Youth Congress is a national priority requiring coordinated planning across security, transport, health and culture. For participants, host institutions and the public, the directive provides a clear institutional anchor and a defined timeline, ensuring that the event’s organisation is managed centrally and transparently until its conclusion in late 2027.

Source: Republic of Korea Official Gazette (대한민국 관보), No. 21314, 3 September 2026, Directives (훈령) section, p. 6 (official reference: 국무총리훈령 제951호).