‘Olympics of Accountants’ Opens in Seoul on the 17th; Experts to Tackle AI and Accounting Reform

[Financial News] The World Congress of Accountants (WCOA), known as the “Olympics of Accountants,” will be held in Korea for the first time in its 122-year history. Accounting professionals from around the world are expected to gather in Seoul to discuss the future of the accounting industry in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and ways to build trust in global financial markets.
The Korean Institute of Certified Public Accountants (KICPA) announced on the 15th that it will jointly host the 2026 World Congress of Accountants (WCOA 2026) with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) from the 17th to the 19th at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. IFAC is a leading international organization in the global accounting profession, representing more than 4 million accounting professionals through 188 member organizations in about 150 countries.
The World Congress of Accountants is the largest international event in the accounting field, bringing together accounting professionals, business leaders, policymakers and others from around the world. First held in St. Louis, United States, in 1904, it has a 122-year history, and this will be the first time it is held in Korea. The congress will be held under the theme “Together for a Connected Tomorrow (Together, We Open the Future),” with attendees expected to include about 800 overseas delegates and accounting professionals from Korea and abroad. 
The congress will address key issues facing the accounting industry, including AI-driven digital innovation and strengthening the capabilities of the next generation of accounting professionals. In particular, changes to accountants’ roles amid the spread of AI and ways to strengthen their expertise are expected to be key topics of discussion.
On the first day, the 17th, discussions will focus on the competitiveness of the global economy and the stability of financial markets. Je-Yoon Shin, chairman of the board of Samsung Electronics, is expected to deliver a keynote address outlining ways to strengthen economic resilience amid a rapidly changing environment shaped by geopolitical uncertainty and technological innovation. Participants will then examine the stability of global financial markets and the importance of international cooperation, and discuss organizational leadership and crisis-response measures as uncertainty grows.
On the 18th, the congress will take a close look at AI’s impact on the accounting industry. Discussions will cover the automation of accounting and finance work using AI and ways to train skilled professionals. The congress will also present a case study on building AI agents using Microsoft Copilot.
A session will also assess the results of Korea’s accounting reforms. On the final day, the 19th, KICPA Chairman Choi Woon-youl and accounting professionals from abroad are expected to discuss how reforms to Korea’s accounting and auditing system—including amendments to the Act on External Audit of Stock Companies—have affected audit quality, as well as future directions for regulatory improvements. Another session will analyze the effects of the periodic auditor designation system on auditor independence and audit quality.
Chairman Choi said, “This congress will be an opportunity to share with the world Korea’s experience in accounting transparency and trust, which the country has steadily strengthened,” adding, “We will work closely with IFAC and do everything we can to prepare for a successful event.” 
[email protected] Seo Min-ji Reporter