Creation of a Stay-Type MICE Belt Linked to 'Goyang-Con' and K-Culture Valley
Building a Sustainable Urban Model Where Exhibitions, Performances, and Tourism Circulate
Goyang City: "KINTEX Is the Industrial Center of Goyang... The Starting Point for Global Economic Advancement"
"With the groundbreaking of KINTEX Exhibition Center 3, we will elevate Goyang into a global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) hub."
On the 23rd, Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, declared his vision for an international city by announcing the establishment of a stay-type MICE ecosystem linked to 'Goyang-Con' at the groundbreaking ceremony for KINTEX Exhibition Center 3.
Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, is delivering a commemorative speech at the groundbreaking ceremony of the KINTEX Exhibition Center Hall 3 on the 23rd. Provided by Goyang Special City
Mayor Lee stated, "Goyang is already growing into a leading city in Korea where K-culture, MICE, and high-tech industries converge," adding, "Once KINTEX Exhibition Center 3 and the surrounding industrial belt are completed, Goyang will be established as the 'capital of MICE'."
He continued, "By connecting KINTEX, Ilsan Technovalley, Goyang Broadcasting & Media Valley, and K-Culture Valley, we will develop Goyang into a complex industrial city where bio, precision medicine, smart mobility, and content industries are integrated." He emphasized, "We will realize mutually beneficial growth where industrial advancement leads to more jobs and economic opportunities for citizens."
Stay-Type MICE City Accelerated by Exhibition Center 3 and Surrounding Infrastructure
With the groundbreaking of KINTEX Exhibition Center 3, Goyang City is accelerating the development of a stay-type MICE belt that integrates accommodation, culture, and transportation.
Exhibition Center 3 is being constructed with a total project cost of 672.6 billion won, targeting completion in 2028. Upon completion, KINTEX will offer a total of 170,000 square meters of international exhibition space, becoming the largest exhibition and convention complex in Korea.
Nearby, the Novotel Ambassador KINTEX (300 rooms), scheduled for completion in 2029, and a multi-purpose parking building (1,000 spaces), expected to be finished by 2028, are also being developed. Once these infrastructures are complete, the KINTEX area will become a comprehensive MICE cluster with approximately 1,500 accommodation rooms and 7,400 parking spaces.
The city plans to transform into a 'stay-type MICE city' centered on KINTEX Exhibition Centers 1, 2, and 3, an anchor hotel, and the multi-purpose parking building, creating a sustainable MICE ecosystem where exhibition and conference participants stay in Goyang, contribute to local consumption, and connect with tourism and cultural content.
Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, and other attendees are participating in the 'KINTEX Exhibition Hall 3 Groundbreaking Ceremony' held on the 23rd. Provided by Goyang Special City
The Heart of the MICE Industry, 'Goyang-Con'... A New Growth Engine for the Urban Economy
The city is also positioning the 'Goyang-Con' brand as another core driver of the MICE industry.
Originally, Goyang-Con was a term used by fan communities to refer to concerts held at Goyang Sports Complex, but it has now become a representative city brand.
In particular, Goyang Sports Complex, which can accommodate up to 50,000 people, has emerged as a major platform for large-scale performances. With the opening of the GTX-A KINTEX Station, accessibility has improved, making it a key stage for global concerts.
Last year and this year, world-renowned artists such as BTS, Blackpink, Coldplay, Oasis, and Travis Scott held concerts in Goyang, attracting more than 800,000 spectators and generating over 8 billion won in non-tax revenue alone.
On concert days, local businesses and accommodation facilities are bustling, injecting vitality into the regional economy. According to a survey by the Goyang Research Institute (as of 2024), large-scale performances have led to a noticeable increase in sales at nearby restaurants and shops, confirming the positive economic impact on the local community.
Additionally, synergy is expected with the 'K-Culture Valley Arena,' for which the Live Nation consortium, the world's largest concert promoter, was recently selected as the preferred bidder.
Since signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Live Nation Korea last year for cooperation and joint growth in the field of cultural and artistic performances, Goyang City has continued to attract major performances by global artists, creating a global cultural economy ecosystem where performances, exhibitions, and tourism are interconnected.
Ranked 15th Globally in GDS-I, Consecutive International Events... Goyang's Global Status Confirmed
This year, Goyang City ranked 15th in the world and 3rd in the Asia-Pacific region in the '2025 Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index)' among 151 cities, demonstrating its competitiveness as a global MICE city.
This ranking, based on comprehensive evaluations in four areas-environment, society, infrastructure, and city marketing-shows that Goyang's 'eco-friendly MICE city' model, grounded in sustainability and resilience, has gained international recognition.
Furthermore, by successfully attracting major international events such as the Korea-Africa Summit and the 2025 UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments) Asia-Pacific Congress, Goyang is strengthening its reputation as a city of global cooperation.
Notably, the 'UCLG ASPAC Goyang Congress' held last September saw a record attendance of over 800 people, including representatives from 173 local governments and international organizations from 27 countries.
Mayor Lee stated, "The groundbreaking of KINTEX Exhibition Center 3 is not just the start of a construction project, but a declaration of Goyang's future as an industrial city," adding, "Through Goyang, the MICE city sought after by the world, we will create a new growth engine for the Korean economy."
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