The first meeting of the International Organizing Committee (IOC) for the next International Population Conference was held at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) in Seoul, Korea, from 10 to 11 February 2011. During this meeting, the IOC members approved the dates for the Conference (26-31 August 2013) and drafted a preliminary scientific programme for the call for papers. We thank IUSSP members for the 186 suggestions for session topics proposed via the IUSSP website. These proposals assisted the IOC members in creating the themes and topics for the Conference. The Call for Papers with a complete list of themes and sessions will be announced in 2012. The deadline for submission of abstracts for the conference has tentatively been set for 15 October 2012. We hope you will submit a paper to the call for papers and encourage your students and colleagues to submit. Busan offers excellent facilities at the BEXCO Conference Centre, which will provide space for 12 parallel sessions, a large auditorium, and plenty of open space for exhibits and poster sessions. The Conference facility is located near hotels, restaurants, shopping and sandy beaches, where participants and accompanying family members can enjoy the summer days. Participants can also visit nearby Buddhist temples and historical sites where they can learn more about Korea's history and Korean traditional culture. The Korean National Organizing Committee (NOC) has been actively preparing this conference. IOC members have had the opportunity to appreciate the NOC members' enthusiasm and hospitality as well as their efficient organizational skills. The Conference promises to offer intellectually stimulating discussions. Korean researchers are eager to discuss with IUSSP members from around the world current population research, learn how other countries are grappling with the issue of rapid population ageing, and share the experiences of the older generation of Korean population experts who implemented Korea's very successful family planning policies.