Opening Mass, papal welcome ceremony and Way of the Cross set for Mapo venues from Aug. 3; 16 departments and 5 working groups to coordinate transport, accommodation, safety, medical and environmental support
Mapo-gu has formed a comprehensive support task force for the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day and held its first working meeting Thursday to begin preparations across key areas.
World Youth Day is a large-scale international Catholic gathering where young people from around the world come together to share faith and culture. It will also be the first edition held in a non-Catholic-majority country. A diocesan phase runs from July 29 to Aug. 2 next year, followed by the main event from Aug. 3 to Aug. 8, with between 700,000 and 1 million participants expected from across the globe.
In Mapo-gu, major events are scheduled at Seoul World Cup Stadium and the surrounding Peace Park — including the Opening Mass on Aug. 3, a papal welcome ceremony on Aug. 5 and the Way of the Cross on Aug. 6. The Culture Station Seoul 284, a cultural complex within the district, has also been designated as a key venue for the Youth Festival.
With up to 500,000 people expected to converge on the Sangam area, the district formed the task force to ensure participant safety and convenience while minimizing disruption to residents' daily lives.
The task force, overseen by the deputy district mayor and involving 16 departments, will operate through September next year. It comprises five working groups covering general coordination and public relations, transport and pedestrian safety, space and accommodation support, disaster safety and medical support, and environment and culture support.
Earlier, in September, the district signed an MOU with the event's organizing committee, the second district of the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul, and local parishes. Through the agreement, the parties plan to cooperate on leveraging local religious and cultural assets — including the Han River Pilgrimage Route and the Jeoldusan Martyrs' Shrine — and on supporting participant convenience.
At the first meeting, participants shared the event's key schedule and preparations, and discussed the roles and support plans of each working group, cooperation with relevant agencies, and the timeline going forward.
Given the scale of the crowds and the midsummer timing, the meeting identified accommodation, transport and pedestrian safety, and disaster and emergency medical response as priority concerns.
On accommodation, officials focused on using public facilities such as schools and district-run sports centers as temporary lodging. Dining convenience was also considered — proposals included posting guidance signs at restaurants available to participants and inspecting hygiene conditions at eateries and dosirak manufacturers.
Transport measures for safe participant movement were also discussed, including checks on pedestrian flow around venues, crowd management plans for concentrated subway use, and possible vehicle restrictions.
Alongside this, officials reviewed safety measures for heat waves and heavy rain, as well as emergency patient response plans. Discussions centered on securing cooling shelters and shade structures, ensuring drinking water supply, and establishing emergency medical systems in coordination with public health centers and the fire department.
"We will prepare step by step from now so that young people from around the world can stay safely and comfortably in Mapo and create good memories," Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-kyun said. "We will look ahead at transport and safety to prevent disruption to residents' daily lives during the event, and work together with relevant agencies to support its successful staging."
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