MAGIS 2027 Korea
Living Hope, Igniting Peace – to Seoul with the Jesuits of the Central European ProvinceFrom 25 July to 2 August 2027, around 1,000 young adults from more than 70 countries will gather in South Korea for MAGIS, the international meeting of Ignatian youth. Afterwards we go on together to World Youth Day in Seoul. Nine young people from our province can join the group.
MAGIS 2027 for young people of our province is organised by the Jesuits of Central Europe (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lithuania and Latvia, Sweden).
When
25 July – 8 August 2027
Where
Seoul, South Korea
Who
Aged 18–30
Places
9
Apply by 30 November 2026. Later applications go on the waiting list until the final deadline of 15 January 2027.
More than a trip
Magis means “more”, a word dear to St Ignatius of Loyola. It does not mean more activity, but more depth: more love, more generosity, and more attention to where God is already at work in your life.
MAGIS is the international gathering of Ignatian youth held before each World Youth Day. Since it began in Paris in 1997, thousands of young people have taken part, most recently in Portugal in 2023. In 2027 MAGIS comes to Asia for the first time, and for the first time to a country where Christians are a minority. It is hosted by the Jesuit Province of Korea, with its base camp, Villa MAGIS, at Sogang University in Seoul.
The theme is Living Hope, Igniting Peace. It invites us not only to speak of hope but to live it, and to carry the peace of the Risen Christ into a divided world.
Programme: three weeks, four stages
Gathering in Seoul · 25–27 July
All pilgrims arrive at Villa MAGIS, Sogang University. Opening Mass, first encounters, and an introduction to the theme.
Experiment · 27–31 July
In international groups of 20 to 30 people, you set out for five days of faith, service and discovery. Each day your group gathers in the MAGIS Circle to share, pray and discern together.
Reunion · 31 July – 2 August
Back in Seoul for the Feast of St Ignatius, a night of adoration and peace, the MAGIS Fair and Festival of Nations, a conversation with Fr General Arturo Sosa SJ, and the closing Mass that sends us on to World Youth Day.
World Youth Day · 3–8 August
Together with hundreds of thousands of young people and Pope Leo XIV in Seoul, under the motto “Take courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Every day is shaped by the five pillars of MAGIS: personal prayer, apostolic experience, daily Eucharist, the MAGIS Circle and the Ignatian Examen.
Six ways into the living Church of Korea
The Korean Church was not founded by missionaries but by lay people who discovered the faith for themselves and held on to it through persecution. Today it is young, lively and engaged in society. The Experiments take you right into it. Groups are put together by the organising team in Korea.
Arts and Culture
Where Korean tradition and contemporary culture meet, and how the Gospel engages with them.
Ecology and Environment
Caring for our common home in a society that has developed at breathtaking speed.
Faith and Spirituality
The prayer of a Church shaped by its martyrs, and the prayer of its young people today.
Peace and Dialogue
A peninsula still divided, and Christian faith in a society of many religions.
Pilgrimage and Journey
Walking to the historic places of Korean Christianity, and on an inner journey of your own.
Solidarity and Service
Meeting people on the margins of society, not from a distance but by sharing their life.
Who can apply?
MAGIS is for young adults aged 18 to 30 who are connected with the Jesuits or the wider Ignatian family. That might be a Zukunftswerkstatt, a Jesuit school, a university chaplaincy, a retreat you have made, a community such as the Missionary Sisters of Christ (MC), the Helpers or the Congregation of Jesus, or another work of the province. We welcome applications from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lithuania and Sweden.
You need to be able to get by in English. The main events take place in English, Spanish and Korean, and English is the common language in the international groups.
How to apply
- Apply by 30 November 2026 using the online form, with a short letter of motivation.
- Ask for a letter of recommendation from a Jesuit or a sister of the MC, the Helpers or the CJ who knows you. They send it directly to info@wydmagis2027-ece.org, with your name in the subject line, by the same deadline.
- Hear back from us. There are only nine places. Applications received by 30 November are considered first; after that, applications go on a waiting list until 15 January 2027.
- Book your flight once your place is confirmed. The earlier you apply, the earlier you can book.
- Prepare together at an online meeting of the group in spring 2027. We will register you with MAGIS Korea.
Please note: it is not possible to register individually with MAGIS Korea. All registrations go through the province coordinator.
Travel and costs
Flights: you book your own
Everyone books their own flight, but please wait until your place is confirmed. The earlier you apply, the earlier you can book. You must arrive in Seoul by 25 July 2027 at the latest, and the earliest you can fly home is 9 August. I will be flying out on 23 July and returning on 10 August; you are welcome to travel on the same flights, and I will send the details once places are confirmed.
Costs
The total cost is around EUR 2,000–2,500, including flights. Your own share is EUR 500–700; the Central European Province of the Jesuits covers the rest. You pay for your flight yourself when you book it, and the province reimburses the flight costs that go beyond your share.
Accompaniment
The group will be accompanied by Fr Martin Föhn SJ, MAGIS coordinator for the Central European Province of the Society of Jesus.
Visa and entry
Citizens of all the countries below need no visa for stays of up to 90 days. What differs is the electronic travel authorisation K-ETA.
- Germany, Austria, Sweden: currently exempt from K-ETA, but the exemption only runs until 31 December 2026. If it is not extended, you will need a K-ETA for July 2027. Travellers without a K-ETA fill in the electronic arrival card (e-Arrival Card) online before arriving.
- Switzerland, Lithuania, Latvia: not on the exemption list. Apply online for a K-ETA at k-eta.go.kr, at least 72 hours before departure.
- Other nationalities: please check with the Korean embassy in your country of residence and tell us early, as a visa can take several weeks.
Your passport must be valid for the whole stay. Only use the official website k-eta.go.kr; other sites charge extra fees. We will confirm the rules for 2027 at the online meeting in spring.
Travel insurance: your responsibility
Every participant is responsible for their own travel insurance. Please make sure you are covered for the whole time in South Korea for:
- medical treatment and hospital stays abroad
- medical repatriation to your home country
- accidents
Check first whether your existing health insurance already covers South Korea; you may only need a top-up. Because you book your own flight, we also recommend trip cancellation insurance.
Please carry your insurance details and your insurer's emergency number with you during the trip.
Frequently asked questions
How good does my English need to be?
Good enough to follow a conversation and take part in a group. It does not need to be perfect.
Can I come to MAGIS only, or World Youth Day only?
No, the trip includes both.
What does it cost?
Around EUR 2,000–2,500 in total, including flights. Your own share is EUR 500–700; the Central European Province of the Jesuits covers the rest. You pay for your flight when you book it, and the flight costs beyond your share are reimbursed.
Who can write my letter of recommendation?
A Jesuit who knows you, for example from a school, a university chaplaincy, a retreat or a Zukunftswerkstatt, or a sister of the Missionary Sisters of Christ (MC), the Helpers or the Congregation of Jesus (CJ).
What will the weather be like?
Peak summer: daytime temperatures of 30–33 °C, humid, with occasional showers.
Where will we sleep?
In Seoul at Villa MAGIS, Sogang University. During the Experiments, accommodation depends on the Experiment. Bring a sleeping bag.
What should I pack?
Light summer clothing, toiletries, a sleeping bag, and perhaps a small item that represents your country. Detailed packing guidelines will follow closer to the time.
Is there a preparation meeting?
Yes, an online meeting of the whole group in spring 2027. MAGIS Korea also sends out a monthly newsletter with prayers and formation material.
I am over 30 or under 18. Can I still come?
Unfortunately not: the age limit is set by MAGIS Korea.
Who can I ask?
Write to info@wydmagis2027-ece.org.
Nine places. Apply by 30 November 2026.
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