Destination Report Seoul is a special edition of HeadQuarters Magazine - October 2010published by Meeting Media Company (Belgium) - www.headquartersmagazine.com - press@headquartersmagazine.com

HEADQUARTERSE U R O P E , M I D D L E - E A S T, A F R I C A

SEOULA HOSPITABLE

HOST CITY

THE 5TH G-20 SUMMIT The G20 is the jewel in the Seoul meetings

industry crown and set to become lasting

evidence of its competitive hosting capabili-

ties. The event, running from November

11-12th, will see approximately 35 heads of

state attending, along with an estimated

10,000 participants overall. Seoul is the fi rst

non-Western city to host the G20 summit

since its inception in 1999.

The reasons why Seoul was chosen are

obvious: abundant world-class accommoda-

tion, convenient transportation network and

security infrastructure make it the ideal host

venue. Held at COEX, Seoul’s premier confer-

ence and exhibition centre, the talks will

focus upon the participation of the private

sector in global economic recovery, and cover

the four sectors of trade, investment, fi nance,

green growth, and social responsibility.

The G20 will increase Seoul’s visibility on the

international scene and the tourism sector

will surely benefi t from it. In recognition of the

event, the city produced ‘Seoul G20: The Capi-

tal’s Greatest 20 Experiences’, after foreign

residents were asked to choose their favorite

locations and activities from a list of 200

options. ‘Seoul G20’ is a handy guidebook that

covers food, performances, temples, palaces,

and various other attractions. It includes popu-

lar areas such as Myeong-dong and Insa-dong

as well as more off-the-beaten-path experiences

such as a traditional village near Namsan

Mountain and health and wellness venues like

Korean-style saunas.

SEOUL: WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL 2010More and more people are growing aware

of this but in terms of innovation in the fi eld

of design, Seoul has nothing to blush about.

Named ‘World Design Capital 2010’, it’s recog-

nized for a design-led approach both modern,

yet imbued with cultural sensibilities, while

balancing economic and social considerations.

These efforts, combined with the global

proliferation of Korean-produced high-tech

consumer goods from well-known brands,

have helped establish the nation’s 21st Century

image as a design metropolis - and rightly so.

It’s only understandable that the Seoul Metro-

politan government presided over the World

Design Cities Summit last February. In attend-

ance were the nation’s top policymakers,

representatives, as well as global design

experts. Further to this, the city of Seoul

proposed the creation of a biennial summit

during which design cities would meet and

discuss. Worth mentioning also is the open-

ing, last March, of the Seoul Design Foun-

dation, set up to promote the local design

industry, as well as lend expertise and boost

its competitiveness.

Seoul’s well-deserved position as ‘World

Design Capital 2010’ has to do with:

+ Technology - Designers create the latest

home, but also street, appliances as to

make 21st Century living easy, as well as

ubiquitous high-speed internet.

2010 HAS TRULY BEEN A LANDMARK YEAR FOR SEOUL, THE 600-YEAR-OLD CAPITAL CITY

OF PERPETUAL GROWTH AND CHANGE, NOW A SHINING BEACON OF MODERNITY IN THE

21ST CENTURY AND ONE OF THE WORLD’S PREMIER CONVENTION CITIES. BESIDES HOST-

ING THE G-20 SUMMIT IN NOVEMBER, SEOUL HAS INDEED BEEN BRANDED THE OFFICIAL

‘WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL’ FOR 2010 AND WILL WELCOME THE KOREA MICE EXPO AT THE

END OF THE YEAR. AS A HOSPITABLE HOST CITY, IT COULD HARDLY FARE BETTER.

WELCOME TO

HOSPITABLE SEOUL

> I N T R O D U C T I O N

HEADQUARTERS 2

+ Architecture and renovation - In Seoul,

modern, environmentally-sustainable

buildings are designed to put the needs

of people fi rst while existing buildings go

green, such as COEX and its ongoing

efforts to use energy-effi cient lighting,

waste disposal and energy generation.

+ Restoration - Bringing back the natural

world to the urban landscape, the Han

River Renaissance Project and Seoul Forest

testify to Seoul’s ongoing commitment to

become a green metropolis. The Cheong-

gyecheon Stream Restoration Project

aimed to restore the city’s once-covered

urban waterway to its former glory.

Opened in January 2010, Floating Island

is the nation’s fi rst truly fl oating artifi cial

island complex, designed for entertain-

ment, as well as international meetings and

exhibitions. The island of Seonyudo stands

reborn as a verdant public park that under-

scores the city’s aims of green space and

industrial necessity standing in harmony.

+ Infrastructure - Travelling around has

never been so easy - and pretty! - in

Seoul as new subway lines, high-speed

rail such as the KTX-II connecting Incheon

International Airport with the city, ‘smart

bus stops’ and compressed natural gas

buses saw the light of day. Plans are also

underway to build a new convention center

by 2014 in the Seoul Station area, with

a multipurpose cultural space totalling

55,000 m2.

Seoul is celebrating its designation through

a variety of events clearly showcasing its

hospitable abilities. From September 17 - Oc-

tober 7, the Seoul Design Fair highlighted past

achievements and future trends in an array of

fi reworks and activities. Seoul Design Market

offered a platform for international transac-

tions, exploration of business partners, new

design material, etc. Last but not least, the

Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a major urban

development project, will revitalize the Dong-

daemun area and create the focal point of the

Asian design industry, set for completion in

2011.

VISIT KOREA YEAR 2010-2012The least we can say is that Seoul likes to

think big. The largest tourism campaign the

nation has seen in over a decade, ‘Visit Korea

2010-2012’ is centered around Seoul in 2010

and promotes Korean culture under the theme

of ‘design, green tourism and Korean cuisine’.

A multitude of events have taken or will take

place to celebrate the city’s unique vibrancy.

For instance, the very best of Korean cuisine

was showcased to the world during the Seoul

Gourmet 2010 food festival. The colorful

event was an eclectic mix of Korean and inter-

national cuisine for the enjoyment of all.

Other festivals include the annual Seoul

Grand Sale, which aims to promote the Korean

capital as a shopping mecca with signifi cant

discounts on a wide range of goods. The

most recent Grand Sale ran from July 21 to

September 12, offering shoppers discounts of

up to 60 percent at over 5,000 businesses in

20 categories. In addition, the Seoul Lantern

Festival brings together locals and interna-

tional visitors each November in the spirit of

peaceful cooperation amidst a backdrop of

multicolored night lights.

As the hospitable convention city par excel-

lence, Seoul will host the Korea MICE Expo - the

country’s sole exhibition for meetings, incentives,

conventions and exhibitions over the next 3 years,

which will run from November 23-25 at COEX.

Organized by the Korea Tourism Organization, the

aim is to turn the expo into a major brand product

for Seoul and Korea, with the goal of fostering

the creation of further MICE cities across the

peninsula. Highlights of the expo will be the Seoul

MICE Forum in which future meetings trends will

be discussed, and the next IMEX-MPI-KME Future

Leaders Forum. Approximately 2,000 people are

expected to attend, including some 100 interna-

tional buyers along with over 150 local buyers,

with some 300 booths.

> I N T R O D U C T I O N

The G20 is the jewel in the Seoul meetings industry crown and

set to become lasting evidence of its competitive hosting

capabilities. The event, running from November 11-12th, will see approximately

35 heads of state attending

K O R E A M I C E E X P O 2 0 1 0

Han River

Banpo Fountain Bridge

HEADQUARTERS 4

> M E E T I N G F A C I L I T I E S

MEETING VENUES When history meets modernity

IT’S OBVIOUS FROM THE MANY MODERN AND PRIME MEETING VENUES ALONE WHY

SEOUL WAS APPOINTED ‘WORLD DESIGN CAPITAL 2010’ AND WHY IT’S THE #2 ASIAN

INTERNATIONAL MEETING CITY FOR ASSOCIATIONS. HERE ALONE ARE JUST THE

TOP CONFERENCE LOCATIONS.

CONVENTIONS & EXHIBITIONSCOEX (Convention Exhibition) Center is an

expanding complex of exhibition halls for

large conventions and trade shows. Located

next to the Korea World Trade Center, the

main hall can accommodate almost a dozen

different exhibitions at any time. With its

437, 221 m2, 51 conference rooms and

4 exhibition halls, 2 luxury hotels, a casino,

multiplex cinema and over 100 restaurants,

it’s the ideal place for any large event.

Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention Center

(SETEC) offers 34,600 m2 of fl oor space

overall, with 15,630 m2 of adjustable fl oor

space for exhibitions and conventions,

4 meeting rooms and 3 exhibition halls. It is

equipped with various subsidiary facilities

that make it possible to diversify space

utilization for different types of exhibitions,

fairs, conferences and other types of events.

TOP 5 UNIQUE VENUES

1. A former government residence,

Seoul Partner’s House is a meet-

ings venue for small and medium

companies. It has an event hall

that can seat 100 attendees, a seminar

room capable of holding up to 20 persons,

and a seminar lounge able to seat 10. Also

included are a business center, a rooftop

garden, a restaurant and 9 guest rooms

with all the facilities a business tourist

would expect, including high-speed internet.

2. Fradia is a fl oating cultural

and artistic space that offers a

40-seat area that can be used

for such events as presenta-

tions, meetings, brand promotions, small

banquets and press conferences. It also

has extensive audiovisual and presentation

systems suitable for any event. The stage

and seating can be arranged freely, offering

planners a wide variety of options. Adding

to Fradia’s attraction is its location right on

the water.

3. The National Museum of

Korea is the nation’s greatest

repository of its long history

and cultural heritage. The

current incarnation of the museum

occupies brand-new headquarters complet-

ed in 2005 with capacity not only for 6,000

years of history, but a multitude of event

halls suitable for a variety of purposes,

including special exhibition halls, auditori-

ums, lecture rooms and a performance stage.

4. Samcheonggak, or ‘The Pavil-

ion of the Three Purities’, was

created as a special entertain-

ment venue for high-ranking

government offi cials. Today, it is open to

the public and contains a performance hall,

a restaurant, a teahouse, guest accommo-

dations and a number of assembly halls,

including an international conference hall.

Located in the lush green forest of Mt.

Bukaksan, Samcheonggak is close to major

Seoul attractions.

5. Yeong Bin Gwan, or ‘State

Guest House’, is the jewel in

the crown of super deluxe

business hotels, the Shilla.

Built in 1967 by the Seoul government to

house and entertain international state

visitors, it is now the Shilla’s banquet hall

complex. The three halls are capable of

seating 100-250 guests at a time and the

building is surrounded by lush grounds,

making garden parties possible.

COEX

SETEC

Seoul Partner’s House

Samcheonggak

Fradia

Yeong Bin GwanNational Museum of Korea

HEADQUARTERS 5

> A C C O M M O D A T I O N

SEOUL’S BUSINESS HOTELS

Take your pick

SEOUL HAS NUMEROUS SUPER-DELUXE

CONVENTION HOTELS IN CONVENIENT

LOCATIONS CAPABLE OF HANDLING

EVENTS AND CONFERENCES OF VARY-

ING SIZES. THE FOLLOWING SELECTION

IS ALSO VARIED: IT INCLUDES INTERNA-

TIONAL HOTEL BRANDS AND KOREAN

HOTELS, BUT IN EVERY CASE YOU CAN

DEPEND ON QUALITY AND MEETING

ORIENTED SERVICE.

CENTRALLY LOCATEDNaturally, several hotels can be found in the

city center, offering attendees the possibility

to visit the many delights of Seoul, right

outside the hotel’s meeting rooms.

The Westin Chosun Hotel is one of the top

100 hotels in the world, according to the

respected fi nance publication Institutional

Investor and ‘the best hotel in Seoul’

according to ASIA Money. The hotel has in

total 453 rooms and has long proved itself

to be top in the areas of excellence and

convenience. In the past, it has hosted major

events for Merck, Toyota, and the IISS.

Centrally located, the Lotte Hotel Seoul

is a super-deluxe hotel boasting a grand

total of 975 guest rooms and 15 meeting

halls designed to suit a variety of needs. It

guarantees elegance, quality and top service

with a long track record of excellence.

The super-deluxe Shilla Hotel has success-

fully hosted many state visits and major

conferences in its decade of operation. Its

462 guest rooms and 13 meeting rooms

ensure it can handle all events great and small.

Well-placed nearby Seoul’s major commer-

cial and shopping districts, the Grand Hyatt

makes getting about the city easy. With its

601 guest rooms and 9 meeting rooms, it is

well-catered for business events.

‘CONVENTIONALLY’ LOCATEDThose attending conferences at COEX will be

delighted with the choice of hotel accommo-

dation nearby. The Park Hyatt is conveniently

situated across from COEX at the center

of the city’s fi nancial and business district,

Gangnam. The facilities of the 24-story,

5-star luxury hotel include a business center

and six meeting rooms with high-speed Inter-

net access and wireless LAN.

The JW Marriot, located in the heart of

the Gangnam district, near COEX, has 497

rooms and suites equipped with state-of-

the-art technology, as well as nine meeting

rooms including a Grand Ballroom for large-

scale events.

As the name implies, the COEX Intercon-

tinental Seoul is conveniently located next

to COEX, one of the city’s major convention

centers, as well as the World Trade Center

casino. Guests have all the entertainment

facilities of COEX at their disposal as well

as a City Air Terminal to make international

travel all the more convenient. The hotel pro-

vides 652 guest rooms and 11 meeting rooms.

Last but not least, the Millennium Hilton

lets its guests make conferences more

recreational. Just a short ride from central

Seoul at the foot of Namsan Mountain, it

features nearly 700 recently-renovated

rooms. Its deluxe facilities include a busi-

ness center and numerous recreational

facilities.

Westin Chosun Hotel Crystal Ballroom - Lotte Hotel

The Shilla Seoul

Grand Hyatt Seoul Park Hyatt

Millennium Seoul HiltonGrand Intercontinental SeoulJW Marriott

HEADQUARTERS 6

> H I G H L I G H T S

TOP ATTRACTIONS Plenty to do, plenty to see

SEOUL’S OFFICIAL NAME IS ‘SEOUL SPECIAL CITY’, A FACT WITH WHICH YOU’RE IMMEDI-

ATELY CONFRONTED WHEN VISITING THE SPRAWLING METROPOLIS BEFORE AND AFTER

A CONFERENCE: THERE ARE PLENTY OF HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND TOURISTIC SITES

TO VISIT AND SIGHTS TO SEE.

For a complete overview of the city, you should

visit N Seoul Tower high atop Mt. Namsan in

Central Seoul. It offers spectacular panoramic

views of the city below that can be enjoyed

from the comfort of 4 observation decks and

2 revolving restaurants. Visitors can access the

tower via a spectacular cable car ride over the

city, while those in search of exercise can hike

their way up through the Namsan forest.

Gyeongbokgung or ‘The Palace Of Shining

Happiness’ (established 1394) is the city’s

largest royal palace replete with ancient build-

ings, and relics. Like many of Seoul’s palaces,

Gyeongbokgung is also used for Korea’s many

popular historical dramas, and an authentic

changing of the guard ceremony is regularly

enacted for visitors, its performers

fully-clothed in the traditional costumes of

the time. Nearby, the National Palace Museum

and National Folk Museum brings the history

of Seoul to life through a variety of informa-

tive exhibits.

Cheongwadae (The Blue House) is the site of

the presidential residence and home to many

historic venues. The building was used until

1993, when a replacement was constructed

and the older one demolished. The guided

tour requires registration at least 10 days in

advance and runs for about one hour and 30

minutes. The tour is composed of seven sites,

including the presidential residence, Nokjiwon

Garden, the state guesthouse, the old site of

Gyeongmudae, and others.

The Namsan Hanok Village of traditional

Korean houses (hanok) showcases 5,000 years

of history. There are a wide range of venues

located in the village, including a traditional

garden, famous houses and mansions, a mu-

seum displaying the history of Korean society,

a traditional music hall, and a time capsule

prepared in 1994 meant to be opened in 2394.

There are various performances; interactive

activities and various everyday traditional

rituals; also, classes that are available through-

out the day on a monthly basis. Namsan Hanok

Village provides an opportunity to view and

experience a range of cultural and traditional

activities in an area meticulously preserved for

optimal historical fi delity.

The new Leeum Permanent Exhibition of

Modern & Contemporary Art is divided into

three buildings, with the fi rst showcasing

traditional Korean works of art dating back to

the Three Kingdoms period, while the second

houses modern artwork produced by both

Koreans and foreigners, and the third, the

Samsung Child Education & Culture Center,

attempts to bring art to the next generation

of future leaders. The design of each building

actively contributes to Seoul’s ongoing efforts

to show why it was designated ‘World Design

Capital 2010’. In addition to the standing

exhibits, visitors can also engage in hands-on

activities, such as developing graphic art and

drawing.

N Seoul Tower Gwanghwamun SquareNamsan Hanok Village

Leeum

Gyeongbokgung

HEADQUARTERS 7

> S E R V I C E S

THE SEOUL CONVENTION BUREAU IS YOUR FIRST STOP ALONG THE PATH TO THE

SUCCESSFUL HOSTING OF AN EVENT IN THE KOREAN CAPITAL. YOU’LL BE SURPRISED

AT JUST HOW MUCH HELP ITS DEDICATED TEAM OF PROFESSIONALS CAN OFFER.

BIDDING SUPPORTWhen bidding for an association confer-

ence, the Seoul Convention Bureau can

provide all kinds of administrative,

organizational or fi nancial support; they can

help you in all bidding activities from site

inspections to proposal preparation (includ-

ing information and data gathering), and

can even get a letter of recommendation or

video message from the CEO of the Seoul

Tourism Organization to support the bid!

PROMOTIONAL SUPPORTIn terms of promotion, the Seoul Conven-

tion Bureau offers fi nancial support for mail

abroad and information and advice on con-

vention hosting. To increase the visibility of

your event, they can provide a promotion

booth, as well as promotional fi lm material

demonstrating the assets of Seoul city as

a congress destination or just a close and

friendly collaboration should you choose to

produce your own promotional fi lm.

EVENT & MEETING OPERATIONS SUPPORTDuring the event itself, the Seoul Conven-

tion Bureau will make sure you get the best

service possible. In addition to the pos-

sibility of having a banquet hosted by the

mayor of Seoul himself, fi nancial support

is offered for publications and the hiring of

conference venues and tours. The SCB will

also secure qualifi ed, bilingual volunteers

to help at your event, while assisting you in

the production of a tourism brochure you

may want to distribute to your participants.

Complimentary advertising at Incheon

International Airport is also an option.

SUPPORT PACKAGESDifferent fi nancial support packages are

offered for non-profi t international confer-

ences or profi t-driven corporate meetings,

depending on the number of overseas

participants, length of stay and number of

meetings scheduled.

EXPERT SUPPLIERSThe SCB has a database of all graduates

of the Seoul Convention Academy, Seoul

Convention Bureau Volunteer Team and

those of 19 convention-related departments

of 11 Seoul colleges that they can access to

provide a highly-trained pool of volunteers for

the smooth running of your event. Volunteers

are top students chosen from 19 convention-

related departments from 11 universities

in Seoul Convention Academy graduates.

The convention bureau holds a database of

highly-trained volunteers together with many

other industry service suppliers.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTThis includes airport welcoming services

and transport arranged upon request,

as well as familiarization tours for event

organizers, media and travel agents to help

acclimatize business tourists with Korea.

view to COEX

CONTACT

Seoul Convention Bureau /

Seoul Tourism Organization

Katie Kim

T: 82-2-3788-0853

katie@seoulwelcome.com

www.miceseoul.com

When bidding for an association conference, the Seoul Convention Bureau can provide all kinds of administrative, organizational or fi nancial support

Namsan Cable Car

SEOUL CONVENTION BUREAU A wealth of services

After many years working as a foreign correspondent and a UN official, I have returned to South Korea and its capital Seoul, my hometown. What I have found is a city that has been transformed into a proud world-class metropolis. Today, as the chief executive of the Seoul Tourism Organization, my responsibility is to showcase Seoul globally.

Less explored than other Asian capitals, Seoul startles even veteran travelers. What’s intriguing is the city's blend of history derived from the country’s long line of Kings, Queens and deep Buddhist traditions. What has arisen today is a mega-city of 10 million that stands at the pinnacle of modern technology. You need but experience Seoul’s ultra-efficient Incheon International Airport, a public transportation system that goes everywhere, top-of-the-line luxury hotels, service with a smile, exquisite dining, 24-hour shopping, classical music performances of the highest order and cutting-edge modern art and entertainment. And that’s just a taste of the discoveries that await.

One example of Seoul’s growing international acclaim is its designation as the World Design Capital 2010, given for the city’s progress in revitalizing the urban landscape. Moreover, the city is at the forefront of South Korea’s current national tourism campaign Visit Korea Year 2010-2012. Topping that, Seoul will welcome global leaders to the city for the fifth G20 Summit in November 2010.

At any time, a fresh, fascinating and friendly place to enjoy, Seoul will be the place to be in 2010.

I look forward to welcoming you as well!

Samuel KooSeoul Tourism Organization &Seoul Convention Bureau President & CEO

G20 Seoul summit World Design Capital Seoul 2010 Visit Seoul 2010 Korea Mice Expo 2010

My Story, SeoulWelcome to Korea with a Seoul smile.

Seoul Metropolitan Government, Tourism Promotion Divisionwww.miceseoul.com/www.visitseoul.netContact Us : Seoul Tourism Organization TEL 82-2-3788-0821~4, FAX 82-2-3788-0899 Email mice@seoulwelcome.com