Pohang City Embarks on Journey Toward Glocal City... Hosts MICE Policy Forum

Agreement Ceremony to Foster Local Talent and Strengthen Metropolitan MICE Industry Infrastructure

Full-Scale Promotion of Pohang-Style MICE Industry and Preparation to Leap into a Glocal MICE City

On the 10th, Pohang City held the ‘Pohang-style MICE Policy Forum’ under the theme of the journey toward a glocal city and Pohang’s signature MICE at the city hall’s main conference room.

Pohang City held the "Pohang-style MICE Policy Forum" on the 10th. Photo by Pohang City

The forum was attended by about 200 domestic and international MICE stakeholders, including Vice Mayor Jang Sang-gil, Vice Chairman of the City Council Lee Jae-jin, Chairman Son Su-deuk of the Korea Exhibition Industry Promotion Association, and Chairman Oh Seong-hwan of the Korea PCO Association.

Before the forum, a signing ceremony was held for the joint hosting of the Pohang World Global Expo and for fostering regional and metropolitan MICE talents.

In the agreement, it was decided to collaborate with Pohang University of Science and Technology, Handong Global University, Sunrin University, and Pohang University to nurture local talents, and to strengthen the metropolitan-level MICE industry foundation by linking with the Korea MICE Association, Korea PCO Association, and Korea Exhibition Industry Promotion Association.

Makoto Batori, Executive Director of Pacifico Yokohama Exhibition Hall, who gave the keynote speech, advised, “Pohang should focus on selecting and concentrating on MICE sectors suited to its regional characteristics, strengthen connections with local communities, universities, and related industries, and prepare sustainable operational strategies that consider long-term facility management costs.”

The second keynote speech was delivered via a Zoom video conference by Jeong Hyeong-pil, Center Director of the Yasobumi Convention Center (IICC) operating company in New Delhi, India.

Director Jeong emphasized, “It is essential to secure diverse content to actively promote Pohang MICE and collaborate with various institutions and organizations linked to local industries to create unique content.”

In the second part, Shim Hong-seop, Head of the Pohang City MICE Development Team, presented ‘Pohang Signature MICE and the 2025 MICE Industry Policy Promotion Projects,’ Baek Ji-young, Secretary General of the Korea PCO Association, presented ‘Cases of Signature MICE Events,’ and Ha Hong-guk, Secretary General of the Korea MICE Association, spoke on ‘The Necessity of Fostering Local Talents.’

In the final roundtable, chaired by Professor Yoon Eun-joo, Chairperson of the Pohang MICE Industry Support Committee, discussions were held on fostering MICE talents in the Pohang region and developing signature events, concretizing the direction of Pohang’s MICE industry.

Vice Mayor Jang Sang-gil stated, “We will actively foster the MICE industry that creates high added value centered on the Pohang International Exhibition and Convention Center, which broke ground last July. Through this forum, by nurturing local MICE talents, we will take a step closer to becoming a sustainable global MICE hub city.”

In July, Pohang City broke ground on the Pohang International Exhibition and Convention Center (POEX), which will serve as a core hub for the MICE industry and a landmark of the city.

The center is planned to be built on a 26,608㎡ site of the former U.S. military base Camp Liberty in Jangseong-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang City, with a total floor area of 63,818㎡ from one basement floor to five above-ground floors. The main facilities will include an exhibition hall, a convention hall capable of accommodating about 2,000 people simultaneously, 11 medium and small meeting rooms, citizen rest areas, commercial and office facilities, and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.