KOREA
Land of possibilities
A high-tech future meets a unique ancient culture in South Korea where much awaits event planners, writes Ellie Evans
K orea’s wealth of both modern and traditional venues has helped it retain a place in the top meeting destinations around the world – and its exceptional venues are at the heart of a new Korea Unique Venues scheme to shine a light on nearly 40 unmissable spots. The capital Seoul is a must-visit but the whole country is easily commutable, with the main cities less than three hours by high‐ speed train or a short flight away. Visa‐free access means Korea is an easy country to access for delegates frommore than 110 countries – plus its appeal has been further bolstered by the introduction of financial support from the bidding stage to marketing and delivery by the Korea Tourism Organization. “Korea MICE has pioneered a new direction in business tourism since the beginning of the pandemic,” says Sang Min Lee, director of Korea Tourism Organization London Office. “Super‐fast broadband and seamless IT infrastructure will take business events and meetings to the next level and enable diverse formats – virtual, hybrid and in‐person.”
Tri-Bowl cultural centre, Incheon
Seoul Korea’s five‐star hotel inventory has
What they say
increased massively in the last few years. The 254‐room Josun Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Seoul’s Gangnam district, has been turning heads since it opened last year; its three event rooms can host almost 1,000 delegates. The Andaz Seoul Gangnam boasts clean and bright interiors throughout its 241 bedrooms and open‐plan event studios which accommodate up to 250. Nearby COEX is the country’s most renowned convention centre with a wealth
Neil Darkes, co-founder and CEO of life science executive leaders’ network LSX Leaders. “I would find it hard to look beyond South Korea as a location for any future Asian-based event. Culturally diverse, welcoming and supportive of international business, well connected, both internationally and domestically for transport, a marriage of efficient and technologically advanced cities with unspoilt countryside on their doorstep – and what’s not to love about the South Korean cuisine? “As a life sciences and pharmaceutical event organiser, Incheon Songdo and Suwon in Gyeonggi-do province are immediately attractive given their locale, infrastructure, expansive transport links and venue facilities. Close enough to Seoul for local stakeholder travel and conveniently connected to Korea’s major international airport for international arrivals. Both offer their own distinct feel and charm to make them destination venues in their own right, an important draw for our international executives.”
of event spaces, the largest of which can hold 1,800: it recently unveiled a
professional broadcasting studio featuring a 12m‐wide curved LED screen for immersive video presentations and backdrops. Or check out Some Sevit, a trio of artificial floating islands in the Han River, where Some Gavit is home to a convention centre
Floating Island Convention Centre, Seoul
while Solvit offers exhibition space. Incheon and Songdo
Songdo International Business District is a smart city and an economic free zone built from scratch on reclaimed land along Incheon’s waterfront, 30km south‐west of Seoul and 20 minutes’ drive from Incheon International Airport. Songdo ConvensiA is among the most technologically innovative structures of its kind while the jaw‐dropping
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