Seoul

The capital of South Korea, Seoul is the heart of the cultural, political, economic and educational centre of the country. As a northeast Asian business hub, Seoul has what it takes for business success, starting with the world’s fourth largest airport, serviced by 56 airlines. Seoul ranked fourth worldwide as a convention destination in the 2013 International Meetings Statistics Report by the Union of International Associations (UIA). Since 2010, the city has remained in the UIA world top five for three consecutive years. According to the report’s findings, Seoul’s ranking moved up a place, with the city shown to have hosted a total of 242 international congresses held in 2013 as determined by UIA criteria, accounting for 2.3 per cent of the global total. Seoul also played a major part in South Korea’s ranking, which rose to third place with 635 meetings, up from fifth place with 563 meetings in 2012, reflecting a 12.8 per cent increase.

The shopping and entertainment districts of Myeongdong and Apgujeong, and Asia’s largest underground shopping center Coex Mall also draw large number of tourists every year. The Hangang River, which runs through the center of the city, is also a distinctive landscape of Seoul that offers myriad of resting areas.

Coex Convention & Exhibition Centre in Seoul is Korea’s venue of choice. Established in 1979, Coex provides more than 20 years of experience and know-how of the local MICE industry. The center is conveniently located in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul’s business district, and hosts a yearly average of 200 exhibitions and over 2,000 separate meetings and events.

SETEC, a cradle from which businesses can launch into the global market, consists of three exhibition halls and four meeting rooms with a floor space of 15,630 sq m; inside the building, it covers 34,600 sq m of space. The space can be organised in many different ways to accommodate demands for various functions, including specialty exhibitions, expos, international meetings, events, and performances. This exhibition and convention center is fully equipped with a wide range of annex and support facilities.

AW Convention Centre features a conference hall which can host large events such as international conferences and receptions, business seminars and small conferences. In particular, the Grand Ball Room which has a capacity to host 3,000 guests at a time offers customised banquet services with latest sound and lighting systems and modern assistance facilities.

The 63 Convention Centre is another ideal venue for special conferences, various company events and conventions. The Grand Ballroom holds up to 2,000 guests.

Seoul has increasingly been seen as an attractive destination for corporate and incentive travel in recent years. Seoul is home to many historic sites like Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces, and places of traditional culture like Bukchon Hanok Village, Insa-dong, and Namdaemun Market.

36 of Seoul’s five, four and three star hotels serve as convention venues for international conferences and corporate meetings, and are fully equipped with services and facilities like Sheraton Grande Walkerhill and W Seoul Walkerhill, The-K Hotel Seoul, Lotte Hotel Seoul, InterContinental Seoul COEX, Seoul Palace Hotel, to name a few.

Places of interest

From the bustling all night markets with goods of every imaginable type to the charming traditional tea houses where customers nibble sweet rice pastries and sip tea, the city has something to satisfy all expectations. In the day, one can go sight-seeing at palaces, visit one of the many museums, drop by N Seoul Tower for a glimpse of the city, or cafe-hop in areas like Garosu-gil, and Samcheong-dong. At night, Hongdae, known for its urban arts and Indie music culture, clubs and entertainment, comes alive for the traveller.