Why Seoul?

Seoul is an intriguing unique meetings destination with a fascinating dual character of ancient traditions and ultramodern technological lifestyles. It is home to the captivating UNESCO World Heritage-listed palaces and shrines as well as the gleaming futuristic skyscrapers. Here are the five reasons as to why Seoul is “Your Complete Convention City.”

Accessibility
Seoul is easily accessible to and from around the globe, thanks to Incheon International Airport, a consistent category winner of the Airports Council International’s Airport Service Quality Awards for nine years’ running. The airport is just 43 minutes away from downtown Seoul by high-speed rail. A modern 18-line subway system (including 9 urban rail lines) connects every corner of Seoul and surrounding cities and has signage, maps and announcements in English, while a smart, extensive bus system and taxis with free interpretation service combine to make getting around Seoul simple and affordable.

Culture
Seoul is the capital of Korea with 600-year history. It is a thriving center of the peninsula’s traditions and culture. Its well-preserved national monuments and palaces showcase its long history and attract many international visitors every year. The Seonjeongneung Royal Tomb of Joseon Dynasty, Jongmyo Shrine, and Changdeokgung Palace have earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Not only that, Seoul’s modern cultural scene is also evenly represented, with a wealth of museums and galleries available around the city.

The Korean Wave Experience
Hallyu, the appeal and spread of popular Korean culture overseas (or often referred to as “The Korean Wave”), covers a broad range of attractions such as Korean fashion, cosmetics, pop music, and television that have all become popular items globally, often generating further interest in Seoul as a result. With the growing popularity of K-pop music internationally, owing much to the infamous “Gangnam Style” music video, curious visitors have made their way to discover more about this city. Hallyu pilgrimages to Seoul have become a whole new branch of tourism and corporate event planners are increasingly developing incentive trips based on these attractions. In Seoul, one really can mix business with pleasure.

Cuisine
Seoul offers the very best of Korea’s eclectic cuisine from all the regional provinces. Visitors can enjoy a multi-course banquet of authentic royal Korean cuisine like the Joseon kings. A rich variety of dishes are made possible by the application of ever-changing in-season vegetables, while meats are marinated to perfection. Seoul also contains many restaurants offering diverse international cuisine and offers visitors with many options to choose from.

Accommodation
Seoul currently has 227 registered hotels with the total of 33,522 rooms, spanning all the renowned brands such as Hyatt, InterContinental, and Marriott, as well as world-class local brands including Lotte and Shilla. New hotel properties continue to spring up every year in Seoul with global accommodation brands recognizing the enormous potential of the city’s inbound travel market.

Technology
Seoul is a city in which high-speed communications enhance every aspect of modern life. Visitors will find this cutting-edge infrastructure throughout Seoul’s major meeting venues, with ubiquitous wifi available at the city’s major convention centers such as Coex and at its top business hotels, making videoconferencing, social media, and various other real-time broadcasts a powerful reality.

Find even more reasons to choose Seoul by downloading our free Meeting Planners Guide from www.miceseoul.com