Korea has been ranked within world’s top 2 destination for global congresses hosted in 2015, according to the latest International Meetings Statistics Report, released this week by the Union of International Associations (UIA). The findings show Korea achieving 2^nd place behind the USA with 891 meetings – a 40% increase over the previous year. This also places it first in Asia and accounts for 7.5% of all meetings held worldwide across the same period. The results reflect continued strong interest in Korea, helped by the rise of its diverse regional Korean meeting destinations.

Seoul, the nation’s capital, also notably improved its long-standing top-5 UIA city ranking, moving from 5^th to 3^rd place with 494 meetings held in 2015; a 98.4% increase over the 249 meetings hosted in 2014. Meanwhile, Busan, Korea’s second-largest city, attained a global city ranking of 11 with 150 meetings, while renowned UNESCO World Heritage resort island Jeju accounted for 112 of the year’s meetings, achieving a global city ranking of 19.

Nationwide infrastructure growth has played a key role in boosting Korea’s MICE competitiveness, including expanded facilities in the Gangwon-do Province, for the forthcoming Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics  and the ‘Javelin spur’ of the KTX high speed train, which will connect Seoul with Gangwon Province in just over 1 hour.. Also, ongoing expansions to the Korea MICE Expo host Songdo ConvensiA in Incheon’s International Business District. Brand-new regional convention facilities include the new Asia Culture Center in southeastern city Gwangju and Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in the southwestern UNESCO capital of Gyeongju.

About the Korea MICE Bureau

The Korea MICE Bureau (KMB), under the Korea Tourism Organization, aims to establish Korea as a premier destination for tourists, convention delegates, and business travelers. As the government's leading MICE agency, the KMB has worked for nearly 30 years to provide a wide range of assistance to those considering holding meetings in Korea.

Contact: Anne Ridyard, Appointed Representative for KTO London office, for Europe

Email: KoreaMICE@moulden-marketing.co.uk

Tel: +44 1628 526184