Strengthening Connections Between Kintex, Sono Calm, and Hyundai Department Store in Goyang
International Conferences and Visitor Numbers Recover to Pre-COVID-19 Levels
Infrastructure Expansion with GTX Opening and Construction of Exhibition Hall 3
Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province is rapidly emerging as a global hub for the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry.
Centered around Kintex, Goyang Special City is expanding its large-scale infrastructure, revitalizing its International Conference Complex District, and reorganizing its administrative structure. Through these efforts, the city is establishing itself as the top international conference city in the Asia-Pacific region and is striving to become the "MICE capital of Korea."
According to Goyang Special City on June 23, the city hosted more than 2,400 MICE events in 2023. It also ranked first in the Asia-Pacific region and 14th globally for two consecutive years in the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-I).
The number of visitors and international conferences, which had declined due to COVID-19, recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, reaching 5.84 million visitors and 244 international conferences. These numbers are continuing to increase in 2024. In June 2023, the Korea-Africa Summit was held at Kintex, and in September 2024, the UCLG ASPAC (United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific) General Assembly will also be held there, marking a series of large-scale international events at the venue.
Goyang Special City has been selected for six consecutive years for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s "Support for Revitalizing International Conference Complex Districts" program, securing 520 million won in government and provincial funding. This will be used to further activate the 2.1 million square meter International Conference Complex District around Kintex.
The city is expanding the number of MICE Promotion Center companies to 30 and is implementing four key projects: resuming shuttle bus operations, renovating information centers, and organizing inter-facility events. Through these initiatives, the city is achieving tangible results, such as the growth of resident companies, enhanced convenience for visitors, and revitalization of the local economy.
Infrastructure expansion is also accelerating. Construction of Kintex Exhibition Hall 3 began this year and is scheduled for completion in 2028. Once completed, the exhibition area will increase to 170,000 square meters, making it one of the top 25 exhibition centers in the world. This will put it on par with global exhibitions such as CES in the United States and IFA in Germany.
A four-star anchor hotel with 310 rooms and a parking complex building with a capacity for 1,000 vehicles are also scheduled for completion by 2029. In addition, the opening of the GTX-A Kintex Station and the development of transportation and cultural parks will significantly improve accessibility and the overall environment for visitors.
The city is also pursuing innovation in its dedicated MICE organization. The existing Goyang Convention Bureau will be relaunched in October as the "Goyang International Expo Foundation," integrating with the Goyang International Flower Expo. This new entity will serve as a strategic control tower for exhibition and expo planning, infrastructure expansion, and the development of Goyang-specific content. Through these efforts, the city aims to enhance its competitiveness in attracting international conferences and accelerate the creation of a sustainable MICE ecosystem.
Donghwan Lee, Mayor of Goyang, stated, "We plan to strengthen our international conference capabilities based on cooperation and mutual growth between Kintex and related facilities. By creating a MICE hub that integrates exhibitions, accommodations, and transportation, and linking it with surrounding development, we will strive to become a global MICE capital with international competitiveness."
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