By Park Soo-jung, Reporter
October 14, 2026

SEOUL — With the launch of the official app for World Youth Day (WYD) Seoul 2027, pilgrims can now access information in one place on everything from preparing for their journey to daily life in Korea and visits to pilgrimage sites.

The Seoul WYD 2027 Organising Committee, chaired by Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick, recently released the pilgrim app, provisionally named “WYD 2027”. Most of its content is available immediately after installation, with no sign-up or login required. The home screen shows a countdown to the main event, the programme schedule, the theme verse, the official prayer and the Seoul Pilgrimage Routes.

 

Preparing for the Journey

The “Preparation” menu covers the pilgrim kit, spiritual preparation, departure preparation, Korean phrases and package information.

The departure preparation section explains what to expect from Korean weather in July and August and offers packing tips, along with information on voltage and plug types, emergency text alerts and the government’s multilingual disaster-alert app. It also sets out the etiquette and legal information pilgrims will need during their stay, including rules on waste disposal, smoking areas and noise.

The Korean phrases section teaches useful expressions for asking directions and communicating in church or at Mass. Each expression is presented in Hangeul, with an English pronunciation guide and a translation.

 

Pilgrimage and Museums

The “Pilgrimage” menu introduces the Seoul Pilgrimage Routes, Pilgrims’ Prayer and the Pilgrimage Route with Museums.

The museum pilgrimage route takes pilgrims to three sites: the Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul History Museum at Myeongdong Cathedral, the Seosomun Shrine History Museum at the Seosomun Martyrs’ Shrine and the Korean Catholic Martyrs’ Museum at Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine. Pilgrims who visit all three and verify their visits through the app will receive a certificate of completion. Verification requires sign-up and login.

 

Maps and More

A “Map” menu, based on Google Maps, shows shrines and event-related locations. It currently lists 24 sites, focusing on the shrines and museum pilgrimage routes.  Users can also look up events by date and find information on amenities.

The app also includes information on the history of the Catholic Church in Korea, its martyrs, traditional Korean culture and etiquette, how to use public transport and what to do in an emergency.

Organisers plan to keep updating the app with information pilgrims will need before and during the event, and are developing a service that will link the app to the pilgrim card.


Name to Be Chosen by Global Contest

The app can be downloaded by searching for “WYD 2027” on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It is currently available in Korean and English, with Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian to follow. Its official name will be chosen through a worldwide contest.

The main WYD gathering will take place in Seoul from August 3 to 8, 2027.