Suwon Convention Center Area Designated as "International Conference Complex District"... Second in the Province After KINTEX

The area around Suwon Convention Center in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, has been designated as an "International Conference Complex District."

Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced on January 22 that the "Suwon International Conference Complex District Development and Promotion Plan" was recently approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

This is the second International Conference Complex District to be designated in Gyeonggi Province, following the Goyang KINTEX area in 2018. Gyeonggi Province is now the only region in Korea to have two International Conference Complex Districts, solidifying its position as the center of Korea's MICE industry.

The Suwon International Conference Complex District encompasses Suwon Convention Center, Galleria Department Store, Lotte Outlet, Avenue France, Suwon Gwanggyo Museum, Suwon City Art Space Gwanggyo, and Suwon World Cup Stadium. The designated area covers 2.1 million square meters.

Once designated as an International Conference Complex District, the area is eligible for benefits equivalent to those of a special tourist zone, including exemptions or reductions in development charges, traffic impact fees, alternative forest creation fees, farmland preservation charges, and relaxed floor area ratio regulations. In addition, it becomes possible to secure national funding through public support projects for the activation of International Conference Complex Districts promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Location Map of Suwon International Conference Complex District Designated Area

With this designation, Gyeonggi Province plans to develop the Suwon Convention Center area into a core hub for the southern region of the province's MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) industry. By expanding the attraction of international conferences and linking with the tourism and cultural industries, the province aims to establish a structure that revitalizes the local economy and creates jobs.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dongyeon stated, "The Suwon Convention Center and the Gwanggyo area are regions where international conference, tourism, and cultural infrastructure are concentrated," adding, "With the designation of the Suwon International Conference Complex District, we will strengthen the regional hub system of the province's MICE industry."

An International Conference Complex District refers to an area where international conference facilities are clustered together with related direct and indirect facilities such as accommodation, retail, culture, and sports, in accordance with the Act on the Promotion of the International Conference Industry. The designation aims to enhance competitiveness in attracting international conferences and to foster the growth of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) industry.

The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) industry is a high value-added, integrated service sector centered on corporate meetings, incentive tours, international conferences, and exhibitions. It is considered a next-generation strategic industry because per capita spending by participants is higher than that of general tourism, and it has a broad economic ripple effect on related sectors such as accommodation, transportation, and culture.