15 New 'Korea Unique Venues' Selected Including Piac and Cheongnamdae

Ministry of Culture and Tourism Organization Selected as International Conference Venue to Showcase Korea's Attractions

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Tourism Organization, announced on the 6th that they have newly selected 15 venues including 'PIAC', 'Cheongnamdae', 'Tongyeong RCE Sejatrashup', and 'Taekwondowon' through the 'Korea Unique Venue New Designation Contest'.

Busan PIAC exterior view. [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

The Ministry and the Tourism Organization have designated and supported Korea Unique Venues as spaces and facilities capable of hosting MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) events that showcase Korea's distinctive charm. With this new selection, the number of Korea Unique Venues has expanded from 37 to 52 locations.

This year, under the theme of 'Local Unique Culture and Characteristics,' a new designation contest was held to enhance Korea's MICE competitiveness and the satisfaction of foreign tourist participants. From February to June, a total of 53 venues applied, and after document review, presentations, on-site evaluations, and final selection meetings, 15 new venues were designated.

The newly designated Korea Unique Venues include △ 'PIAC (Busan)', a former ship repair factory converted into a complex cultural space △ 'Tongyeong RCE Sejatrashup (Tongyeong, Gyeongnam)', a nature experience facility themed on sustainable development △ 'Taekwondowon (Muju, Jeonbuk)' and 'National Gugak Center (Seoul)', which showcase the uniqueness of Korean culture △ 'Asia Publishing Culture Information Center (Paju, Gyeonggi)', where visitors can experience Korean books and publishing culture △ '10 Years Later Ground (Gwangju)', based on the Yangnim-dong village community in Gwangju △ 'Gyeongju Expo Park (Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk)' △ 'Sky31 Convention (Seoul)' △ 'X The Sky (Busan)' △ 'Yeulmaru & Jangdo Art Island (Yeosu, Jeonnam)' △ 'FE01 Regeneration Complex Cultural Space (Ulsan)' △ 'Expo Science Park Hanbit Tower (Daejeon)' △ 'Cheongnamdae (Cheongju, Chungbuk)' △ 'Korean Culture Theme Park (Andong, Gyeongbuk)' △ and '981 Park (Jeju)'.

On this day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will hold a signing ceremony to promote cooperation among the 52 selected Korea Unique Venues. At the ceremony, the newly and previously designated unique venues will gather to present a plaque to Busan's PIAC, which received the highest evaluation during the new designation contest.

Kim Sang-wook, Director of Tourism Industry Policy at the Ministry, stated, "To attract more international conferences to Korea Unique Venues, we plan to provide tailored support according to event scale, improve facilities, produce promotional content, and strengthen marketing support to raise overseas awareness."