Explore Korea Unique Venues offering unconventional settings for memorable experiences beyond meetings
South Korea is a land of paradoxical landscapes. Modern skyscrapers stand beside ancient temples, while delicious food can be enjoyed at Michelin-star restaurants and humble street food stalls alike. Gorgeous scenery contrasts with the contemporary lines of metropolises. The vibrant nightlife scene juxtaposes with the hard-work ethic of the Koreans during the day. All are easily accessible and reliably with quick public transit.
Korea has also become one of the best MICE destinations in the world. From small meetings to large conferences that book up the cities, South Korea welcomes thousands of corporate travellers every year. Travellers might come for the event, but they stay for the food, nightlife, and culture.
Unique venues in Korea are beautiful backdrops for any international event that will impress visitors. If you’re looking for a MICE venue, here are some of the most memorable in Korea that will delight you with culture and efficiency.
Diverse settings for every need
Discover venues where you can feel the unique concept of the MICE host city or enjoy the unique charms that can only be experienced in the region.
The MICE industry is receiving the spotlight as the “golden industry” in the 4th industrial era, and with this growth, event venues are also diversifying. Companies and organisations that preferred large convention centres in the past have recently started to look for more specialised places and experiences. “Unique Venues” which highlight local culture and characteristics are becoming increasingly sought after.
‘Unique Venues’ that put safety and privacy first
With the global international conference market having stagnated in quantitative growth, the trend is shifting to that of qualitative growth, with organisations looking to host MICE events in venues selected to fit the brand image or the theme of the event. As we enter the era of living with Covid-19, the demand for venues that offer safety and privacy while highlighting the concept of the event is increasing.
The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is pursuing various projects to lead Korea’s MICE industry, and since 2018, its special division, Korea MICE Bureau (KMB) has been intensively fostering the Korea Unique Venue programme. KMB continues to search for new Korea Unique Venues while supporting and promoting current ones, to provide a selection that allows experiences not only in Korean tradition and culture, but also art, leisure sports, Korean Wave, natural scenery, and more.
Korea has a lot to offer when it comes to venues for your event, where a vibrant cultural legacy, comprising of music, art, literature, architecture, and cuisine, offers a delightful mix of tradition and modernity.
Korean Tradition
Korea House
Korea House, opened in 1981, features a traditional Korean building that introduces the culture and lifestyle of Koreans. This traditional cultural complex provides general space rentals for conferences, seminars, and guest receptions, where guests can experience Korea’s diverse culture, such as royal court cuisine, traditional weddings, and its unique team building program ‘Pogurak’n’roll.’
The Korea Furniture Museum
The Korea Furniture Museum, one of the most unique and exclusive museums in Korea, specialises in furniture from the late Joseon Dynasty. This unique and exclusive museum has been restored so that guests can enjoy the pieces in all their glory. The museum in Seoul also has space for indoor and outdoor MICE events.
Bonte Museum
‘Bonte’ means ‘inherent form’, and the museum aims to explore the inherent beauty of every human being. It is located on Jeju-do, an island renowned for its natural beauty. The expansive exhibition hall and picturesque garden make this a beautiful place for MICE.
http://www.bontemuseum.com/eng_new/main.php
Gyeongju National Museum
There is no better place in Korea to view cultural artifacts from the Silla Dynasty than the Gyeongju National Museum. Treasures and trinkets spanning the thousands of years of the ancient dynasty, line up the rooms. The auditorium, seminar room, and additional spaces, also make this a particularly excellent Unique Venue.
https://gyeongju.museum.go.kr/eng/
Cultural Experiences
The Clayarch Gimhae Museum
The Clayarch Gimhae Museum is dedicated to architectural ceramics and features 5,000 tiles of a unique Fired Painting by artist Shin Sang-ho that covers the entire building. Its location is also historic: Gimhae was the centre of ceramic production in the ancient Gaya Kingdom. It’s regarded by the Japanese as the home of the teacup. With outdoor and indoor space, the venue has seats for up to 110 people.
http://english.clayarch.org/index.do
Nodeul Island
Featuring natural beauty with easy accessibility by train, Nodeul Island has space for small to large-sized events with its large Live House Theater (seats up to 456), conference rooms, multiple seminar rooms, and a large outdoor area. Equipment and foreign language support (English) are also available to all MICE guests. Hotels are only 2km away, and shopping and cultural events are nearby also.
Busan Cinema Center
This beautifully lit-up venue is ideal for exhibitions, movies, and other events. With standing room for up to 6000 people, it makes sense why it’s home to the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). The building itself boasts the longest cantilever roof in the world. Parking, various equipment including a large-panel screen, 5.1 channel surround sound stereo speakers, beam projectors, and outsourced catering are available for all events. Located in the city centre, you’re only minutes away from shopping, accommodation, and cultural events.
Nature
Spirited Garden
Spirited Garden is home to hundreds of Bunjae (bonsai) trees in a natural garden with the theme of ‘Oreum’ (volcanic cone) and water, providing the perfect setting for an elegant garden party amid the unique landscape of Jejudo Island. A traditional Jeju-style stonewall surrounding the entire garden shields guests from gusty winds and offers privacy as well as security. The garden has hosted presidents and prime ministers from across Asia, including Yasuhiro Nakasone from Japan.
Nami Island
Beautiful Nami Island in Chuncheon isn’t just the location of numerous international events every year, it’s also a former movie backdrop and home to the biennial Nami Island International Children’s Book Festival. As the Island’s venues, opening in 2019, built everything with conservation in mind, Nami island runs recycling and environmental education programmes, green stores, environmental monitoring and eco-friendly art and development.
Alpensia Ski Jumping Center
This beautiful resort complex was designed to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. Its convention centre is surrounded by nature where outdoor events can be organised. Located in Pyeongchang-gun, it’s surrounded by the superb and clean nature of Daegwallyeong.
Modern City
Floating Island Convention
This large Seoul convention centre is Korea’s only waterfront MICE venue. The seven small and large banquet halls and 13-meter-high dome-shaped structure make a spectacular backdrop to any convention. With space for over 1000 guests, the Floating Island Convention can host small and large events. The building is beautiful at night when it lights up with colourful exterior bright lights.
Panoramic 65
Perched high enough to view the city and nature beyond, Panoramic 65 in Incheon is a hotel dining establishment ideal for corporate banquets, events, or parties. All the equipment you need, like beam projectors, Wi-Fi, sound and lighting equipment, and a podium, are at your disposal. The in-house catering and service are superb. And when the event winds down, guests can conveniently stay in large residence-style hotel rooms fully equipped with kitchens and washing machines.
Korea, an ideal choice for your next event
Even though in-person MICE travel continues to face difficulties worldwide due to Covid-19 restrictions, it is highly likely that people will continue to seek face-to-face meetings in the future. Korea MICE Bureau understands people’s motivation in deciding for or against attending events in-person. The new ecosystem of business events, characterised by digital and hybrid formats as much as by the longing for authentic locations, emotional experiences, and sustainably organised events, demands tailor-made experiences to different target groups. Korea MICE Bureau assists in helping groups choose the perfect venue to gain creative inspiration and emotional experiences which go above and beyond meetings, with customised offers and new business models.
A top convention destination, Korea provides world-class MICE infrastructure, safe and sustainable meeting locations, and an array of unique experiences provided by different cities within the country. Business travellers will love that they can roam free throughout Korea without worrying about their safety. Plus, the country’s high standards of health care and environmental protection are known for enhancing one’s quality of life. Conveniently located with easy access, the country offers more than 90 airlines serving over 186 cities worldwide, making Korea an ideal choice for your next event.
