Seoul reportedly wants to create flagship events and meetings modelled based on CES and the WEF annual meetings. Photo Credit: iStock/obewon
Seoul has announced plans to create its own versions of CES and the Davos forum as flagship international events as part of a broader effort to scale up the city’s MICE sector, The Korea Times reported.
According to the report, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will commit 8.5 billion won (US$5.8 million) to support the initiative under its 2026 Seoul MICE industry development plan, which also includes hosting major global events such as an international machine learning conference and the World Conference on Lung Cancer this year.
At press time, it is not known if the “Seoul-style Davos forum” refers to the government’s aim to clinch hosting rights for global economic and policy meetings, or to convene its own flagship.
As reported by The Korea Times, Seoul plans to prioritise events aligned with strategic industries, including medicine, engineering, science and economics. Organisers may receive bidding and post-event support of up to 280 million won per event, while selected core exhibitions and international conferences will be eligible for up to 80 million won in financial support, alongside customised consulting services.
The city will also strengthen public–private collaboration through the Seoul MICE Alliance, jointly operated with the Seoul Tourism Organization, to promote Seoul at major MICE trade shows in North America and Europe. In parallel, targeted marketing campaigns and incentives will be deployed to attract large incentive-tour groups from China.
“MICE is a high-potential and core industry that can drive a city’s brand value, lifestyle and economic growth,” The Korea Times quoted Kim Myung-joo, director-general of Seoul’s tourism and sports division, as saying. He added that the city aims to create an environment where business travellers can combine work and leisure, positioning Seoul as a leading global MICE destination.