International Geological Congress Returns after 8 Years as an In-person Event
The 37th International Geological Congress (IGC 2024) will be held at BEXCO in Busan from August 25 to 31, under the theme “Great Voyagers: Sailing Toward a Unified Earth.” As the "Olympics of Geological Sciences," IGC 2024 is a global event for geologists and Earth scientists who explore the secrets of the Earth and study planetary geology. The 36th IGC in 2020 was conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year’s congress will return as a large-scale, in-person event for the first time in eight years.

IGC 2024 has been planned for eight years and is now just about to begin. With several events tied into it, including an expo, field trips, a film festival, and cultural performances, IGC 2024 is set to be an opportunity for learning and festivities that is open to all who are interested in geology.

The BTO CVB and Busan Metropolitan City have put together a MICE and tourism promotions booth for IGC 2024 to best present Busan as an attractive tourism city, while helping international visitors to IGC 2024 to get the most out of their time in the marine city.

The Road to IGC 2024 in Busan
The International Geological Congress (IGC) is returning to East Asia for the first time in 28 years, with its last East Asian event having taken place in China in 1996. The efforts of many were involved in bringing this landmark event to Busan, as well as a great deal of work behind the scenes.

The Geological Society of Korea, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Science and ICT, Busan Metropolitan City, and the BTO CVB worked as one team that campaigned in the US, Europe, and Africa for the hosting of IGC 2024 in Busan. Busan stood out at IGC 2016, securing the majority of votes and being chosen as the host city for IGC 2024.

Envisioned as the biggest IGC event ever, IGC 2024 has been eight years in the making and is now about to unfold.

An Affirmation of Sustainability and Responsibility to the Environment
With eco-friendly booths using recyclable wood, the BTO CVB will be participating in IGC 2024 by promoting environmentalism and the many ways in which Busan is growing as a sustainable MICE city.

IGC 2024 is to be a paperless conference, with all handouts and records made electronically. Local suppliers to IGC 2024 were chosen based in part on their minimization of plastic disposables, and recycling stations will be placed throughout the venue to encourage participants to voluntarily dispose of their waste sensibly. Initiatives for carbon offsets and other environmental impact reductions will be observed on field trips and other auxiliary events.
BTO CVB plans to set up an eco-friendly booth using recyclable wood to protect the Earth's environment and leave a lasting impression on visitors of Busan as a "Sustainable MICE City."

IGC 2024 will feature in-depth academic sessions and various side events such as an exhibition and a geological film festival, so we look forward to your keen interest.