A traditional Korean meal is full of surprises and healthy sustenance |
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2,000 + delegates from 35 countries .
The local CVB in Incheon , gives five reasons to choose the area for your big event : 1 . The city is built on reclaimed land and tailored to conventions and , as the first gateway to Korea , has excellent accessibility . 2 . Everything is within walking distance in the conference complex zone . 3 . Sustainability is at the core of things . 4 . Incheon is a high-tech smart city . 5 . Its unique venues include resort complexes , a BMW driving centre , craft arts and even beaches .
I recommend a visit to Incheon ’ s Smart City Corporation which is using cutting-edge IT to increase urban competitiveness and quality of life and security for citizens . A great knowledge add-on for any congress , on an IT or security theme in particular .
And if it is state-of-the-art facilities you are interested in , then Suwon Convention Center , opened in 2019 , is a landmark venue standing on a lake with spectacular views of nature . Its Convention Hall can accommodate up to 3,000 delegates , while the Exhibition Hall measures 7,877sqm , with both areas divisible . There is a rooftop terrace and a VIP Dining Room included free when renting one of the main areas .
The country ’ s venue menu is varied indeed : KTO identifies 10 Korean ‘ MICE cities ’, each with its own specialised industry and convention centre . They offer a wide range of options and are : Seoul , Gyeonggi , Incheon , Gangwon ,
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Daejeon , Daegu , Gyeongju , Gwangju , Gyeongnam and Busan .
And down in the south , in Busan , there is not only the BEXCO complex , but the Busan Port Expo Center ( BPEX ), a new venue at the heart of the maritime district from where you can take a ferry to Japan . The main conference hall is on the fifth floor of the passenger terminal .
BEXCO is still the big daddy venue in town , however , with 46,500sqm of exhibition space and 53 meeting rooms . An expansion in 2012 added a 4,000-seat auditorium . BEXCO management also looks after the unique Nurimaru APEC House , named after the 2005 APEC leaders conference held at the venue .
And , while in Busan , provided you have a head for heights , visit the X The Sky Observatory on the 98th-100th floors of the tallest building in the city , with views onto Haeundae Beach . There are also spaces available for event hire for more exclusive groups .
Busan is aiming to put itself in the global spotlight with a bid for the 2030 World Expo . The winner is scheduled to be announced on 28 November .
The Lotte group has many hotels in Korea and its Signiel Busan Hotel is a particular gem , with meetings space , 260 rooms and spectacular views .
Traditional charms and heritage Despite its meteoric rise in the last 50 years , Korea has over 5,000 years of history and can offer meeting planners and delegates world heritage sites and unique venues reflecting those centuries
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Above : Check out the many support programmes from the local CVBs |
of history and a distinct culture .
We visited a traditional Folk Village during the Chuseok Thanksgiving Holiday , witnessing a traditional show , and getting a glimpse into how people lived in the Joseon Dynasty .
You can see traditional style Hanok houses of the period and how the kimchi and soju fermentation processes work , as well as examples of crafts and tools . We also visited the only fivestar Hanok hotel in the country , at Gyeongwonjae . A niche product with 30 rooms , but room outdoors for a dinner reception for up to 800 people .
Korean cuisine , Hansik , is gaining attention in the global culinary trend , so take the opportunity to find out about the health benefits and try famous dishes such as kimchi and bibimbapas well as the pop-culture inspired chimaek ( chicken and beer ), and Korean BBQ of course .
Meetings support Organisers can tap into several layers of financial and other support when bringing their events to Korea . Check out the KTO website for full details of their International Conventions Support programmes . Local CVBs also have separate offerings .
The Plus Seoul 2023 Support Programme from the Seoul Convention Bureau offers a sliding scale of financial support dependent on eligibility criteria , but the entry point is a minimum of 100 delegates , half of whom must be from abroad for an event that lasts two days or longer . Contact the SCB for full details . n
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