[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] Anseong City held a '2027 Catholic World Youth Day (WYD) Master Plan Establishment Project Kick-off Briefing' on the 13th at the situation room on the second floor of the city hall main building and discussed the direction of initiatives for successfully hosting the event.
The briefing was attended by Mayor Kim Bo-ra, Father Hyun Jung-su (Secretary General of the 2027 WYD Organizing Committee), Father Choi Byun-jae (Head Priest of Mireinae Church), Father Park Woo-sung (Head Priest of Anseong Church), and approximately 20 related officials.
Attendees discussed ways to actively utilize Anseong City's religious and cultural resources in light of the World Youth Day to be held in Seoul in 2027, and reviewed infrastructure development directions.
The city plans to establish △linkages between religious and cultural resources within the city and the World Youth Day △cultural and tourism programs △infrastructure construction plans for transportation, accommodation, and safety through this project to support the successful hosting of the event.
In particular, the city plans to promote Mireinae Holy Ground, where the tomb of Father Kim Dae-gun, Korea's first Catholic priest, is located, as a landmark to convey the history and significance of Korean Catholicism to young pilgrims from around the world.
Meanwhile, the World Youth Day is a large-scale international event where Catholic youth from around the world share and exchange their faith. Approximately one million young people are expected to participate in the 2027 Seoul event. Additionally, it is highly likely that a papal visit to Korea, the fourth in history, will take place, positioning the event as an important event in Korean Catholic history.
Mayor Kim Bo-ra stated, "The 2027 World Youth Day will be a good opportunity to showcase Anseong City's diverse religious, cultural, and historical values to the world," and requested cooperation, saying, "We will make every effort to establish a master plan that reflects Anseong City's unique identity."