Two new MICE venues to open in Seoul

News this week: The development of two new MICE venues in Seoul is reportedly underway to better serve the Korean capital as the demand for more event space has exceeded the current supply. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Exhibition Centre has a planned opening date on 5^th April 2013, and will be located in Seoul's leading fashion district. The venue will consist of exhibition/convention halls, a design experience hall, an underground cultural plaza, and other facilities. The Seoul Station Convention Centre, or Korail Centre, will open in 2015 with a 7,500 capacity convention centre and a 26,500 m² exhibition hall.

According to local MICE industry officials, the problem with a lack of space is not limited to the capital. The existing 12 convention centres across the country only offer a total of 200,000 m² of space.

President of the Korea Convention Society, Kim Chulwon, was quoted saying, “If South Korea wants to meet its tourism arrivals target of 200 million by 2020, there must be sufficient MICE facilities and hotels to cater to these people. MICE demand from Japan and China is growing, and Seoul does not have enough facilities to accommodate these groups and events.”

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