Korean College of Rheumatology (KCR) said Tuesday that it has successfully attracted the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology conference in 2026 (APLAR 2026).

Four countries competed to lure the event, including India, Malaysia, and Taiwan. In the general assembly from Dec. 6-9, APLAR selected Korea after reviewing application documents and conducting open oral evaluations.

APLAR is one of the international academic meetings of rheumatism societies and has 33 member nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

KCR hosted the 11th APLAR meet in 2004 and will do so again after 22 years.

Amid the overall stagnation of international academic conferences and sluggish exchanges among international societies, Korea’s hosting of APLAR 2026 is expected to revitalize regional academic exchanges, according to KCR.

“As a result of playing a leading role based on global academic studies, we managed to attract APLAR 2-26,” KCR Chairman Lee Shin-seok said. “The upcoming conference will serve as an occasion to uplift the status of KCR in the international community and make another leap.”

APLAR 2026 will be held from Oct. 7-30, 2026, at COEX, southern Seoul.