Three Strong Points of Incheon for MICE

Incheon, a global international city, distinguishes itself in the global MICE industry at home and abroad by hosting many conventions and conferences. We looked at representative strengths of Incheon, emerging as a perfect place to hold the '2025 APEC Summit.'

Three Strong Points of Incheon for MICE

--------------------------------------------------------

① [First in Korea] 'First Ever'

② [Transportation] 'All Ways INCHEON'

③ [Safety] 'Smart Safe City'

+ MICE

It is a service industry encompassing four fields: 'Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions,' and various events, such as tourism, exhibitions, and international conferences. The city that holds international events will enjoy many ripple effects, such as new growth drivers and visitor economic effects.

+ APEC

SumitThe Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit to be held in Korea for one week in November 2025, and 21 member countries and 6,000 people will participate in the event. Incheon, with Incheon International Airport and diverse MICE infrastructure, is emerging as a leading candidate for the summit.

① [First Ever]

'First Ever,' the core value of Incheon, captures the city's strong ambition to 'go beyond the first to be the best.' The prefix that Incheon has, 'Korea's first,' is an essential keyword in today's MICE industry.

(1) Korea’s First Free Economic Zone, ‘IFEZ’

On August 11, 2003, the Korean government played its trump card, 'IFEZ,' as a winning move to compete with Asian global business cities. It designated the three regions of Incheon (Songdo, Yeongjong, and Cheongna) with international airports and ports as Korea's first free economic zone (FEZ). International organizations, corporations, and educational institutions with world-class infrastructure are concentrated in IFEZ. In addition, it is an English-speaking city where English is supported in hotels and restaurants, which is convenient for foreign residents.

(2) Korea's First Global Conference Complex, 'Songdo International City'

The 'Global Conference Complex' designated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2018, is an international conference industry fostering district specialized for Incheon, including Songdo Convensia, an international conference facility, and ten integrated facilities. One of the advantages is that it is within walking distance to various MICE spots such as Songdo Convensia, Tri-bowl, and Arts Center Incheon. In particular, 'Songdo Convensia,' a landmark representing Incheon's MICE industry, has facilities for international conferences, exhibitions, and events that can accommodate more than 20,000 people. Recently, as society is returning to normal life from COVID-19, endemic, it further accelerates the attraction of exhibitions and conventions.

② [All Ways INCHEON]

Incheon, which faces the sea and land, is a crucial transportation hub of Korea connected to the seaway, railway, and skyway. With the ever-expanding highways and subways, and the Baengnyeong Airport, which will open soon, the transportation network is getting tighter.

International Transportation Network

Incheon International Airport

'Incheon International Airport,' the gateway connecting Incheon and the world, is the world's top-notch airport with neat facilities, various attractions, such as arts and performances, and convenient facilities, such as capsule hotels. As of 2019, 70 million passengers have visited the airport annually, and it connects to 173 cities in 52 countries. The Global Conference Complex in Songdo International City, the center of Incheon's MICE, is only 20 minutes away by car from the airport. In addition, the Airport Railroad will take you there directly. Incheon International Airport plans to fortify its position as the airport of culture and arts by introducing art storage with constant temperature and humidity control in 2026 to protect artworks.

③ [Smart Safe City]

Incheon, a great city in which to live, is building a safety network without dead grounds through various innovative projects concerned with citizens' safety, such as Smart Crosswalks and CCTV.

Eyes that Protect Citizens Smart City Operation Center

The 'Smart City Operation Center' operated by IFEZ serves as a guard to keep the city safe by finding missing children, preventing suicide, and so on. There are 2,112 CCTVs managed by the center (1,457 in Songdo, 504 in Cheongna, and 151 in Yeongjong). CCTV feeds provide five major public services: crime prevention, disaster prevention, traffic, environment, and citizen information through the real-time monitoring and cooperation system established with related organizations.

In addition, 'Smart Crosswalk,' which tells signals through LED lights on the ground and voice guidance, is installed to keep Incheon citizens safe on the sidewalk. Smart crosswalks are mainly installed at intersections, the Children Protection Zones, and accident black spots in IFEZ.

Whole area of the International Conference Complex

Songdo Convensia

Incheon International Airport