Daegu has been selected to host the 2034 World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology (WCP 2034), marking the first time South Korea will hold the discipline’s flagship international conference.
Daegu secured the 2034 hosting rights after competing against candidate cities from Europe and Africa at the 2026 World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology in Melbourne, Australia, on July 15.
Organized every four years by the International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR), the congress is widely regarded as the most authoritative global gathering in the field. It serves as a premier forum for sharing the latest advances in drug discovery, clinical pharmacology, and basic pharmacology, drawing researchers, physicians, and biotechnology professionals from around the world. Pharmacology is a life-science discipline that examines how drugs work within the human body, analyzing their effects and mechanisms of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion.
A Victory on the Third Attempt
The bid campaign was led by Kim Sang-hyun, a professor at Kyungpook National University and chair of the WCP 2034 Bid Committee for the Korean Society of Pharmacology. The initiative was pursued jointly by Daegu City, the Korean Society of Pharmacology, the Korean Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the Korea Tourism Organization, and EXCO.
After unsuccessful bids for the 2026 and 2030 congresses, Daegu refined its strategy, partnering with KOTRA’s overseas trade offices to conduct tailored outreach for each member nation, ultimately securing the event on its third attempt.
Scheduled to run for six days in November 2034 at EXCO in Daegu, the congress is expected to attract approximately 3,000 researchers and industry leaders, including 2,500 international delegates from nearly 90 countries. The program will feature academic symposiums, technical workshops, industry exhibitions, and networking events.
Municipal authorities estimate the gathering will deliver significant economic impact, generating 14.2 billion won in total output and 6.6 billion won in value-added economic effect.
Coming on the heels of securing the 2028 Asia-Pacific Federation of Pharmacologists (APFP) meeting, hosting WCP 2034 is expected to solidify Daegu’s position as an international hub for biomedical research and industry exchange.
"Winning this bid is a meaningful achievement that proves Daegu’s global competitiveness in the bio and medical sectors," said Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho. "We will actively support efforts to showcase our robust medical ecosystem—including the research infrastructure of the Advanced Medical Complex and local medical schools—to the world, while expanding international joint research and attracting investment from global biotech firms."
