Seoul to host World Congress of Accountants for first time in event's 122-year history

The Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants announced Monday it will co-host the 2026 World Congress of Accountants (WCOA 2026) with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). The event will run from Nov. 17 to 19 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

IFAC is the global representative body for the accounting profession, representing more than 4 million accounting professionals through 188 member organizations in more than 150 countries. It promotes international standards in auditing, assurance, ethics and education, and supports the development of skilled accounting professionals worldwide.

The World Congress of Accountants is the largest international gathering in the accounting field, bringing together accounting professionals, business leaders and policymakers from around the world — earning it the nickname "the Olympics of accountants." The congress has been held since its inaugural edition in St. Louis in 1904, and this year's event marks the first time Korea has hosted it in the event's 122-year history.

The congress will be held under the theme "Together for a Connected Tomorrow," with more than 800 overseas delegates expected alongside domestic and international accounting professionals. In-person attendance is limited to those who have received prior invitations, while certified public accountant members and the general public may participate online.

The program will address key issues through plenary sessions, panel discussions and expert lectures, covering sustainability, AI-driven digital innovation and capacity building for the next generation of accounting professionals. The plenary sessions will also feature an overview of Korea's accounting reform efforts, including a comprehensive revision of the Act on External Audit of Stock Companies.

Korea entered a pivotal period in its accounting regime with the introduction of the revised External Audit Act in 2017. The law strengthened auditor independence and tightened corporate internal controls and accounting accountability, introducing a periodic auditor designation system, a standard audit hours system and enhanced audits of internal accounting management systems. The Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants is also pushing to enact a basic accounting act to consolidate fragmented accounting regulations and strengthen accounting transparency.

"This will be an opportunity to share with the world Korea's experience in consistently strengthening accounting transparency and trust," said Choi Woon-yeol, chairman of the Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants. "We will work closely with IFAC to ensure a successful event. We ask for the continued interest and support of members who cannot attend in person, so they too can share in the congress's achievements online."