Korea Youth Summit 2027 – Leadership Summit in South Korea

Korea Youth Summit (KYS) 2027 is the fourth edition of an international youth leadership and cultural exchange programme organised by the Youth Break the Boundaries (YBB) Foundation. The programme will bring young participants from different countries and academic backgrounds together in Seoul, South Korea.

The current program theme is “Connecting Cultures, Inspiring the Future.” KYS focuses on developing young people's leadership capacity while encouraging cultural understanding, collaboration, and innovative approaches to sustainable development.

The program particularly connects its activities with Sustainable Development Goals including SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Participants can expect activities such as panel discussions, expert-led sessions, cultural experiences, collaborative projects, networking and project presentations. These activities are intended to strengthen skills including critical thinking, teamwork, intercultural communication and problem-solving.

Applicants can choose between Fully Funded and Self-Funded registration. The fully funded route is competitive and requires an application, essay and interview/evaluation process, while the self-funded route does not use the same competitive funded-selection process.

• Applicants must be between 15 and 40 years old.
• Applicants from all nationalities are eligible.
• Applicants from all academic backgrounds are eligible.
• Applicants must never have been convicted of a criminal offence.
• Applicants must not be affiliated with an extremist or violent group.
• TOEFL or IELTS certificates are not required.

Successful Fully Funded applicants receive:

• Full programme fee coverage.
• Accommodation during the programme period.
• Airport transfer at the beginning and end of the programme.
• Access to exclusive fully funded activities.
• Additional mentorship opportunities.
• Opportunity to be considered as a moderator during panel discussions.
• Participation in forums and collaborative activities.
• International networking opportunities.
• Certificates and potential programme awards.

For the Fully Funded category, applicants are officially required to:

• Complete the registration form and required documentation.
• Submit the required supporting documents through the application system.
• Submit the required detailed essay/application material.

For Fully Funded applicants, the official information confirms that selection considers:

• Overall applicant qualifications and quality.
• Submitted application and required essay.
• Interview and evaluation performance.
• Availability of funded places.

• International exposure: Engage with young people from different nationalities and backgrounds.
• Leadership development: Strengthen communication, collaboration, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Cross-cultural learning: Experience cultural exchange and learn from participants with different perspectives.
• Practical project experience: Participate in collaborative activities, project presentations and sustainability-related discussions.
• Professional networking: Build connections with other young leaders and programme participants.
• Global issues: Explore themes connected with education, economic development, innovation and sustainable communities.
• Recognition: Participants can receive programme certificates, with awards available for selected contributions.