Suwon Must Build 'City Brand' to Revitalize MICE Industry

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kang Han-seo] Opinion has been raised that to revitalize Suwon City's MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) industry, the Suwon Convention Center should be actively utilized to establish a 'city brand.'

At the 'Roundtable Discussion for Suwon MICE Revitalization' held by Suwon City at the Suwon Convention Center on the 31st of last month, leaders from MICE-related organizations nationwide emphasized 'city brand establishment' and 'creative marketing.'

The roundtable was attended by roughly 20 representatives from MICE organizations nationwide, including Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young and Suwon Vice Mayor Jo Cheong-sik, as well as Kim Sang-wook, CEO of Daegu EXCO, Jung Jong-tae, President of Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, and Kim Eung-soo, Chairman of the Korea MICE Association.

Kim Sang-wook, CEO of EXCO, stated, "Once infrastructure such as hotels, department stores, and aquariums is completed, the Suwon Convention Center will be comparable to other MICE complexes," and added, "Suwon must actively conduct city marketing to establish its own unique identity."

Jung Jong-tae, President of the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center, said, "We must create a city brand and image," and suggested, "We should also research ways to efficiently utilize the center so it can contribute to regional community development."

Bae Young-cheol, CEO of Daegu Convention Bureau, stated, "We must attract distinctive international events and conduct city marketing," while Hwang Hee-gon, Chairman of the Gangwon International Convention Center, said, "We must pursue creative marketing such as developing and discovering international conferences."

Suwon City plans to reflect the opinions from this roundtable in the mid- to long-term plan titled 'Suwon Convention Center Operation Revitalization and MICE Industry Development Strategy' (tentative), to be established in the second half of the year.

Meanwhile, MICE stands for Meeting (corporate meetings), Incentive travel (incentive tourism), Convention (international conferences), and Exhibition (trade shows), and refers to a convergent industry centered on hosting various conferences and exhibitions, operating convention centers, and tourism industries.

The Suwon Convention Center, which opened on March 29, spans 97,602 square meters across 2 basement levels and 5 above-ground floors, and is equipped with convention halls, exhibition halls, event halls, meeting rooms (28), and a cloud garden (rooftop).

Mayor Yeom Tae-young said, "Suwon City will serve as the center of the MICE industry in the southern Gyeonggi region, develop specialized MICE industry unique to Suwon, and advance toward becoming a global city," and added, "We appreciate the advice for the development of Suwon's MICE industry."