Songdo Convensia in Incheon Achieves 59% Exhibition Hall Utilization... Third-Phase Expansion Planned

1,033 Exhibitions and Conferences Held, 1.06 Million Visitors
Revenue in the Black for Two Consecutive Years, Economic Impact Estimated at 581.2 Billion Won
Feasibility Study for 'Third-Phase Development' to Be Launched

Songdo Convensia in Incheon achieved its best-ever performance last year in terms of exhibition and conference scale, as well as overall operational results. With the exhibition hall utilization rate reaching near full capacity, the third phase of Songdo Convensia’s development is now being pursued.

According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority on February 2, the exhibition hall utilization rate at Songdo Convensia reached 59% last year, a 2 percentage point increase from the previous year, setting a new record high. Revenue also remained in the black for the second consecutive year, demonstrating stable operational results. The total number of annual visitors reached approximately 1.06 million, with about 54,000 foreign visitors-a 30.3% increase compared to 2024.

Last year, Songdo Convensia hosted a total of 1,033 exhibitions and conferences. Notably, the number of international conferences, including the 2025 APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM III) held over more than 20 days, increased by 263% year-on-year to 196. The number of exhibition events also rose by 3.1% compared to the previous year, totaling 135.

A view of Songdo Convensia located in the heart of Songdo International City, Incheon. Provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority

Additionally, efforts were made to develop and foster proprietary exhibitions linked to Incheon’s strategic and root industries. A total of nine proprietary exhibitions were organized directly, including new exhibitions such as “Korea Advanced Materials Week”-the only UFI-certified exhibition in Incheon-“Illustrate Korea,” and the “Pharmaceutical & Bio Investment Expo,” supporting expanded business exchanges and market development for companies.

The economic impact of events held at Songdo Convensia last year is estimated at 581.2 billion won in production inducement and 6,237 jobs created, contributing to regional economic revitalization and job creation.

With the exhibition hall utilization rate approaching the full capacity threshold of 60%, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to launch a feasibility study for the third phase of Songdo Convensia’s development. According to the Korea Convention & Exhibition Industry Research Institute, the optimal utilization rate for exhibition halls is between 50% and 60%; exceeding 60% increases the risk of lost business opportunities and potential customer attrition.

The third phase, with a total project cost of 311.7 billion won, will add three exhibition halls and retail facilities on a 14,000-square-meter site, spanning one basement and four above-ground floors, on the current outdoor parking lot of Songdo Convensia.

Opened in 2008, Songdo Convensia underwent a second-phase expansion in 2018 and is currently operated with a total floor area of 117,163 square meters. It now features four exhibition halls, 35 small and medium-sized meeting rooms, and two large conference rooms that can accommodate up to 1,800 people.

An official from the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority stated, “Songdo Convensia’s record-breaking performance last year is a clear sign that Incheon is emerging as a global MICE hub. We will ensure the smooth progress of the third-phase expansion project to develop Songdo Convensia into a world-class MICE platform.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.