Busan is good

2026 Busan World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) Concludes Successfully

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, successfully concluded the World Library and Information Congress 2026 Busan (WLIC), held at BEXCO from August 10 to 13.

Hosted by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and organized by the National Committee for the World Library and Information Congress 2026 Busan, the congress was held under the theme “Libraries Powering Transformation.”

Approximately 3,500 library and information professionals, researchers, and representatives of related organizations from some 120 countries gathered in Busan to discuss key challenges facing the libraries of the future, including libraries in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), knowledge infrastructure, preservation of cultural heritage, access to information, and sustainability.

In particular, the congress marked the return of the World Library and Information Congress to the Republic of Korea for the first time in 20 years since the 2006 Seoul congress. It was also the first major international event in the library field of its kind to be held in Busan, providing an opportunity to showcase the city’s capacity to host international events and its status as a global city of knowledge and culture.

Throughout the congress, a wide range of academic and exhibition programs explored the role and future of libraries amid a rapidly changing information environment shaped by artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

Approximately 200 professional lectures and academic sessions were held across four lecture halls at BEXCO, providing a platform to share library policies, research achievements, and innovative practices from around the world.

In particular, the National Committee’s main session on August 12, titled “Beyond the Repository: The Library as Civilizational Refinery in the Age of Foundational AI,” explored the new roles libraries must play in an environment where artificial intelligence generates vast amounts of information in real time. Discussions also covered public AI infrastructure, information reliability, and AI and information literacy.

The poster sessions featured 205 presentations, the largest number in the congress’s history, sharing visions for the future of libraries and exemplary practices from around the world in areas including artificial intelligence, digital innovation, and sustainable development.

At the international exhibition, 47 companies and organizations from around the world operated approximately 80 booths, showcasing the latest technologies and services in the library sector, including AI-based library services, digital archiving, academic information platforms, and scanning and preservation technologies.

In particular, Busan Metropolitan City used the congress as an opportunity to sign a trilateral memorandum of understanding with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and the American Library Association (ALA), establishing a foundation for continued exchange and cooperation with the global library community.

At a welcome dinner hosted by the Mayor of Busan at Nurimaru APEC House on August 10, Busan Mayor Chun Jae-soo, IFLA President Leslie Weir, and ALA President Maria McCauley signed the trilateral memorandum of understanding.

The agreement was established on the occasion of the 2026 Busan World Library and Information Congress to build cooperative relations between Busan Metropolitan City and leading international organizations representing the global library community, while continuing exchanges in the library and information field beyond the congress.

Under the agreement, the three organizations will cooperate in a range of areas to advance libraries, including promoting the exchange of knowledge, best practices, expertise, and information related to library policies, services, and operations, as well as exploring continued opportunities for cooperation in the library and information field based on mutual trust and goodwill.

The agreement is particularly significant because it provides an institutional foundation for ensuring that the achievements of hosting WLIC in Busan extend beyond a one-time international event and lead to sustained exchange and cooperation between Busan and the global library community.

Busan Metropolitan City plans to continue expanding international exchanges in the library sector by leveraging its cooperative network with IFLA and ALA to share exemplary policies and service practices from overseas libraries and introduce Busan’s library policies and operational experience to the international community.

A variety of programs highlighting Busan’s libraries and the city’s attractions were also well received by participants.

The “Sea Library Pop-up,” operated in the area around Minrak Waterside Park, drew attention as a distinctive space combining Busan’s coastal setting with reading culture. On August 13, the final day of the congress, 11 one-day tour courses connecting libraries in Busan with major tourist attractions were offered. Participants were able to observe library operations and specialized services firsthand, experience the city’s diverse attractions, and actively engage with library professionals from around the world.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “It is a major achievement that library professionals from some 120 countries gathered in Busan to discuss the future direction of libraries together, and that, in particular, the trilateral agreement with IFLA and ALA has laid the groundwork for continued exchange and cooperation with the global library community.”

He added, “Building on the global network established through this congress, we will continue to further develop Busan’s library policies and services.”