World Youth Day organizers launch Seoul app with maps, schedules and travel tips

The organizing committee for World Youth Day 2027 has released a mobile app to help pilgrims prepare for and find their way around the international gathering of young Catholics in Seoul. The preliminary app, called "WYD 2027," brings together practical travel information, spiritual resources, event schedules, maps and details about Catholic pilgrimage sites in the South Korean capital.

The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play in Korean and English, and versions in Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian are planned. World Youth Day in Seoul is scheduled for August 3 to 8, 2027. It will be the second time the international Catholic youth gathering has been held in Asia, after Manila in 1995.

What the app does

The home screen carries a countdown to the event, direct access to preparation materials, the official prayer, the theme text and the main schedules, along with information on Catholic pilgrimage sites in Seoul. The preparation section offers advice on travel kits, spiritual preparation, pilgrim packages and basic Korean phrases for greetings, directions and use in churches and at Mass.

The app also covers South Korea's summer weather, voltage and plug types, packing recommendations, public behavior, local regulations and emergency alerts. Its map currently lists 24 locations, including Catholic holy sites, museums and event venues, to help pilgrims plan routes and transportation in Seoul.

Museum pilgrimage program

Registered users can take part in a museum pilgrimage program that lets them record visits to three sites: the History Museum of the Archdiocese of Seoul at Myeongdong Cathedral, the Seosomun Shrine History Museum and the Korean Catholic Martyrs Museum at Jeoldusan. Pilgrims who complete all three visits will receive a certificate of completion.

The app also provides information on the Catholic Church in Korea, its martyrs, local culture, public transportation and emergency procedures.

Planned updates

The organizers said the platform will be updated before and during the event. Planned services include integration with pilgrim cards. The app's official name will be chosen through a global contest open to young Catholics around the world.

Background

World Youth Day was established by Pope John Paul II in 1985 as an international gathering of young Catholics. Pope Leo XIV announced Seoul as the host city for 2027 during the closing Mass of the Lisbon gathering in August 2023.