The city of Busan has secured the hosting rights for the 2024 World Volunteer Conference, the world’s largest event in the field of volunteerism. The announcement was made following a selection process conducted by The Committee for the IAVE World Volunteer Congress, which saw Busan emerge as the top choice among a list of cities vying to host the prestigious event.
Busan’s successful bid was a result of the city’s ability to highlight its attractiveness, such as its infrastructure for international events, location, and tourism infrastructure. In particular, the city emphasized its innovative volunteer policies, such as the establishment of a blockchain-based volunteer bank, during the Busan Future Innovation Conference held in February.
With the 2024 World Volunteer Conference set to be held in Busan for three days in November 2024, the city is preparing to welcome over 1,400 volunteer leaders and officials from more than 80 countries. The event is expected to be a significant opportunity for Busan to enhance its status as an international city.
To ensure the success of the event, the city is collaborating with various organizations, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, volunteer organizations, and tourism agencies. The preparations include plans for volunteer forums, breakout sessions, participating country fairs, and cultural events. The city also aims to agendize social problem-solving volunteer measures, such as carbon neutrality, to lead the volunteer system paradigm.
Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon expressed his excitement for the upcoming event, saying, “It is expected to improve the status of the city as a global city by hosting the largest international convention for volunteers and have a positive impact on the bid for the 2030 World Expo.” The city plans to fully prepare for the conference to ensure that all participants, including Busan citizens and volunteers from more than 80 countries, can enjoy a memorable event.
