Destination report
ith a clear and transparent
set of protocols for business
events and the safety of its
people and visitors, South
Korea is likely to be in demand for those
seeking a suitable destination for
international events.
Although some recent Covid-19
flare-ups have been recorded, South
Korea has been lauded as a country that
has kept cases and deaths low compared
to many destinations. Perhaps it is the
collective memory of a nation already
experienced from SARS, and more
recently MERS, that has meant
transparency with a stringent test and
tracing regime allowint the population to
go about their daily lives throughout the
pandemic.
Well known for its lead in technology,
Korea was quick to develop a national
mobile tracing app, which all visitors
must download upon entering the
country. Free, fast testing, combined with
the app, is designed to identify and
Korea’s clear course gets
events back underway
A RELIANCE ON RIGOROUS TESTING AND PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY HAS GOT
SOUTH KOREA’S VENUES AND EVENTS SECTOR BACK ON TRACK
contain cases quickly.
Although Korea was one of the first
countries affected by the pandemic, in
February, the speed at which the country
responded meant that, as of the end of
August there had been just over 300
deaths recorded. Korea sent cleaners into
the streets, on public transport and to
every public space cleaning in plain sight.
The Korean Center for Disease Control
and Prevention has mandated that
hygiene, above all, can prevent the spread,
alongside quarantining the sick and
allowing greater mobility for the rest.
Social distancing of 2m evolved to
distancing in daily life of 1.5m (with
mitigation, hygiene and mask wearing),
schools returned, albeit in a staged
manner, and business events restarted in
May 2020, with a major architects’ event
at the KINTEX venue.
Seoul’s run of Phantom of the Opera is
reported to have been the only English
language production running anywhere
in the world - in a 1,600 strong
We are no
longer facing
any mass
cancellations
on the
organisers’
side. So,
while we
will be
facing an
inevitable
sales deficit
this year, I
believe we
can overcome
this difficult
situation
together
auditorium. This was achieved with a
strict view to hygiene across cast, crew
and audience, from mask wearing (not the
cast), to a light misting of disinfectant
upon entry and frequent hand sanitising
points. Attendees complete a
questionnaire for contact tracing and the
front row of seats was removed as a
precaution.
Business events now have few
restrictions on numbers, providing
protocols are maintained.
Venues KINTEX and COEX have
been well represented in industry webinar
series demonstrating how Korea is
welcoming events, proving to their own
government and the joint meetings
industry bodies that Korean hosts know
who their delegates are and where they
come from, and have the technology and
processes to ensure they can be kept safe.
Venue protocols include:
- All visitors must wear a face mask and
exhibitors must also wear a face-shield.
- Thermometers, or thermal imaging
cameras are installed at the entrance to
the venue and visitors are screened again
before entering the halls.
- Strict distancing of 1.5 metres is
enforced and visitors are encouraged to
sanitise their hands and wear plastic
gloves for exhibitions.
- Convention centres provide an
external quarantine tent and ambulances
on stand-by.
- Venues and organisers work in
tandem to ensure each has clear
responsibility for standards.
- Plain sight, frequent cleaning
operations and sanitiser mists in place.
- Delegates are re-registered on entry
to check their recent travels, and delegates
lists maintained for at least 14 days post
event in case of need to track and trace.
48 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 108