Held by the IAGG (International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics) and the International Congress Organizing Committee once every four years, the World Congress of the IAGG is the world’s largest international congress. Here, leading gerontologists, geriatrics scholars, policy decision-makers, professional activists, related companies, and researchers get together and share recent discoveries and study results.

In addition to Rio de Janeiro, where the 18th IAGG World Congress was held in 2005 and Paris, which is scheduled to host the 19th in 2009, Seoul was chosen as the location for the IAGG’s 20th World Congress in 2013. This was a remarkable achievement that resulted from intense competition.

To hold this World Congress, alternatively known as the International Olympics for Gerontology and Geriatric Research, Korean members who were organized to host the 20th World Conference in the Federation of Korean Gerontology Societies (FKGS) under the leadership of then-FKGS president Dr. Heung-bong Cha had made every effort to host the 2013 conference in Seoul.

This congress is expected to promote Korea’s international academic position in research to improve the rights, health, and quality of life of the older people. An added benefit is that it could help attract tourists to Korea and help allow them to experience Korea’s dynamic society.

The 20th IAGG World Congress has been arranged to be held in the Seoul Coex Convention Center from June 23rd - 27th, 2013.

The organization committee responsible for preparing this global conference belongs to the Federation of Korean Gerontological Societies, a union of four leading academic associations in Korea. The members are mostly Korea’s representative scholars in the fields of gerontology and geriatrics.