SOUTH Korea is one of the top destinations for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) travellers, boasting world-class infrastructure, sustainable meeting locations and unique sights.
In Jeollanam-do Province in the country's southwest, visitors will find cities abundant in beautiful scenery, delectable cuisine and historical sites.
SCENIC COASTAL RETREAT
The largest city in the province is Yeosu, which served as the host for the 2012 World Expo and attracted around seven million visitors from around the world.
In 2014, the city welcomed incentive travel groups from abroad such as Infinitus and Amway.
Reaching Yeosu is possible via flight, coach or bullet train like the Korea Train Express.
The fastest route from Seoul is the one-hour flight from Gimpo Domestic Airport to Yeosu Domestic Airport, while those coming from Busan Metropolitan City will take two hours and 30 minutes to reach the city by coach.
Many great hotels are available in the city, like Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Dolsan Yeosu which opened in 2020.
Hidden Bay Yeosu and SONO Calm Yeosu are among the local hotel brands, all of which boast more than 6,000 rooms in total.
Event organisers will be glad to know that Yeosu's Expo Convention Center can host large crowds, with its largest hall big enough to accommodate 900 people in conference theatre settings.
Those who wish to catch the sunset as well as views of Yeosu's coast can get the best vantage point by riding the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car, as it runs between Jasan Park and Dolsan Park.
Besides breathtaking beaches and islands, the city also features a great variety of fermented seafood dishes, such as ganjang gejang, raw crab marinated in soy sauce and Dolsan gat-kimchi.
A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE
Suncheon city was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2018, making it a great eco-friendly destination for post-meetings or educational tours.
It is home to Korea's first National Garden — Suncheonman Bay National Garden — where visitors will find hundreds of species of tulips, roses and azaleas as well as more than 700,000 trees.
Visitors can then take the monorail to Suncheonman Bay Wetland Reserve to observe mud crabs, and take in the salt marsh and wide, silver grass reed fields. There are more than 239 species of migratory birds in the area.
Historical site Naganeupseong Folk Village is known as the best-preserved Korean fortress town from the Joseon Dynasty, with up to 100 households still living there. It features straw roof houses indigenous to the southern area, with kitchen areas, clay rooms and Korean-style verandas.
Yeosu and Suncheon are merely a glimpse of what Jeollanam-do offers visitors. The province is an attractive destination for conferences and incentive tours for international organisations and corporations.
Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) provides support for international MICE events, incentive travel and corporate meetings hosted in South Korea.
Curious to know more about destinations in Korea? Contact KTO at [email protected] or visit their website for more information.
Use Klook Promo Code for price reductions on travel activities in South Korea.
