Leaders of Asia-Pacific news agencies will gather in Seoul to discuss ways to expand exchanges and further cooperation, their association said Thursday.

The 39th Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies Executive Board Meeting is slated for next Monday and Tuesday at the headquarters of Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's leading news wire agency, OANA said.  

This is the first time Yonhap is hosting the executive board meeting in 20 years.

Some 49 leaders of 23 news agencies are expected to attend, with Yonhap CEO Park No-hwang, OANA President Sergei Mikhailov and PA Group's CEO Clive Marshall giving remarks at Monday's opening ceremony.

At the two-day conference, Yonhap is scheduled to sign a cooperation agreement with the Malaysian National News Agency.

The meeting will also name the first winner of the OANA Award for Excellence in News Agency Quality, which distinguishes employees who contribute to furthering exchanges between OANA members and improving news quality.

To mark the occasion, a hundred editorial photos submitted by 20 news agencies will be exhibited on the first floor of Yonhap's head office from Sunday to Dec. 15. (Yonhap)