Official Announcement: Conversion of Congress Format

Dear My RP Colleagues,

Greetings from Seoul, Korea.

If the memory serves me correctly, I still remember the joyful noise from our friends and colleagues when Seoul was selected as the host city for the IRPA15, eight years ago in Glasgow. Since then, it became my mission and an earnest wish to deliver the most remarkable and fruitful congress, if possible, to all my colleagues by serving the purpose of the congress, sharing the latest studies and discoveries by dynamic interactions and active engagements.

As the Congress President, I have worked tirelessly with my dearest friends, Roger Coates (IRPA President), Wolfgang Weiss (IRPA15 ICPC Chair), Core and Corresponding Group members, and all the ICOC members in the past four years. In this process, we exchanged valuable ideas and thoughts, and we realized that we still had rooms to learn about each other along the way. Thus, I would like to extend my utmost appreciation and respect to all my friends on this journey to bring the RP communities together.

With the weight on our shoulder, we have observed and viewed the current pandemic situation in many different aspects and directions. We studied and monitored other cases and tried to explore possible options for the successful hosting of the IRPA15. After deep consideration of the current circumstances related to the COVID19 pandemic, we concluded that the safety of our society is a non-negotiable priority. Yet, we still believe that our duty as RP professionals should not rest, especially like times like these.

After consulting and exploring means to host the congress feasibly within the given circumstance, we are proud to announce that we will be hosting the very first online & offline combined conference in the history of IRPA, so-called ‘hybrid’ for IRPA15. The offline congress of hybrid IRPA15 will be held for two days on 18-19 January 2021 in COEX, Seoul, Korea for those who wish to particpate in and interact offline, while the virtual congress for both local and international attendees will run a further extended period for three weeks, aiming to bring out the hope and solidarity within the RP global community.

The hybrid IRPA15 could be a once in a lifetime experience to be able to take part in this historical stage as well as listen to the world’s renowned RP professionals’ thoughts and discoveries within your own comfortable time and place. All sessions will be available to click and play from 18th January 2021 until 5th February 2021.

We realize we live in an era where the hybrid may become the new normal, and yet at the same time, we humbly stand in awe of understanding that nothing may replace direct dialogs between brilliant minds and in-person interactions. Knowing the limitation it imposes, we will still make every effort to render IRPA15, the proto-model for hybrid congress, which provides remarkably informative and satisfactory with the top priority given to the safety of all participants, because your well-being guarantees and ensures the future of RP.

Hence, IRPA15 ICOC is respectfully asking for your continued participation and involvement in IRPA15 in this historical step we’re taking. More detailed information and instructions would be sent out to all of you as soon as possible, starting with confirming your intention in contributing to hybrid IRPA15. If you didn’t receive anything from the IRPA15 Secretariat by mid-October, please contact us.

Thank you very much for your kind understanding and support in our decision. We ask for your continued and keen interest in IRPA15.

Regards,

Jong Kyung KIM    IRPA 15 Congress President