Gyeongju City Applies for Approval of 1.5 Million ㎡ Bomun Complex as 'International Conference Complex District'

The view around Gyeongju Hwabek Convention Center in Bomun Complex, which Gyeongju City has applied to be designated as an international conference complex district.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] On the 16th, Gyeongju City in Gyeongbuk Province recently submitted an approval application to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requesting the designation of a 1.5 million㎡ area within the Bomun Complex, centered around the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center in downtown Gyeongju, as an International Conference Complex District.

An International Conference Complex District is a legally designated area where international conference facilities (conference, exhibition, auxiliary facilities) and international conference cluster facilities (accommodation, shopping, performance halls, etc.) necessary for hosting international conferences are gathered.

The approval of the International Conference Complex District will be decided by the end of this year after a written review and on-site evaluation of the designation requirements such as the presence of specialized conference facilities, the number of foreign conference participants, and the area, followed by a review by the evaluation committee.

If designated as an International Conference Complex District, various benefits such as reductions in traffic inducement charges, development charges, and relaxation of floor area ratio will be provided for international conference facilities and cluster facilities.

Additionally, support will be received from the Tourism Promotion Development Fund by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and benefits equivalent to those of a tourism special zone, such as exemption from business restriction regulations, will be granted.

The designation requirements include having specialized conference facilities within the district, at least one cluster facility, and an average of more than 5,000 foreign participants in conferences held within the district over the past three years.

Since December last year, Gyeongju City has been working hard to designate the International Conference Complex District by forming the ‘Gyeongju International Conference Complex District Council’ together with two public institutions and 12 cluster facilities, as well as local hotels, resorts, and Gyeongju World.

Nam Mi-gyeong, head of the Tourism Convention Division of Gyeongju City, said, “If designated as an International Conference Complex District, it will become a global MICE hub city through the expansion of the international conference industry base and the clustering of related industries,” adding, “We will mobilize all administrative power to achieve the designation of the International Conference Complex District by establishing a close cooperative system with Gyeongbuk Province and related organizations.”

Currently, five locations have been designated as International Conference Complex Districts: Incheon Songdo, Goyang in Gyeonggi Province, Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, Daegu EXCO, and Busan BEXCO.