Shin Hyun-dae, President of the Korea MICE Association (pictured), made this statement during an interview with E-Daily on the 7th, saying, “Although hundreds of international events are held every year, empirical data—such as related outcomes—and the experience and know-how gained during the bidding and hosting processes are not being systematically accumulated.” He explained that even events that have been held before, or those with similar scales and formats, are starting from “scratch” every time. He diagnosed that this lack of data and legacy is undermining not only the industry’s competitiveness but also the productivity of the sector as a whole.
Chairman Shin emphasized that empirical data—such as various outputs and outcomes generated before and after events—should be treated as “strategic assets” to enhance industrial competitiveness and productivity. He further argued, “To this end, the cost of building a legacy system to quantify outcomes—including the entire event process and its direct and indirect ripple effects—must be included as a mandatory item starting from the budget planning stage.”
Chairman Shin proposed the establishment of a “MICE Archive Platform” to systematically accumulate and manage experience, strategies, know-how, and outcomes related to hosting international events. He also noted the need to develop specialized AI technologies and services to facilitate a flexible and rapid digital transformation (DX) and artificial intelligence transformation (AX) within the relevant industries. “To boost the productivity and efficiency of data collection and legacy development, the development of ‘vertical AI’ technologies tailored to the characteristics of the MICE industry is essential,” he said.
He argued that the lack of data and legacy systems to demonstrate accurate performance and follow-up effects is leading to “institutional reverse discrimination.” He pointed out that despite being industrial facilities, specialized exhibition and convention centers nationwide are paying “traffic impact fees” that are up to 2.2 times higher than those paid by commercial facilities such as large shopping malls, hotels, and amusement parks. Chairman Shin urged, “While the authority to levy and reduce these fees lies with local governments, the government needs to lower the excessively high traffic impact coefficients set at the national level.”
He also cited improvements to the bidding and procurement system as a prerequisite for building data infrastructure and legacy systems, as well as for industrial advancement. He pointed out that the “lowest-price bidding” structure—where price takes precedence over planning capabilities—and an evaluation system with wide scoring gaps for past project performance, which inevitably leads to a handful of specific companies monopolizing large-scale events, are hindering the growth of start-up and small-to-medium-sized planning firms. Chairman Shin expressed concern, stating, “The lowest-price bidding system, which drives the industry into reckless, cutthroat competition, could ultimately lower event quality and damage the image of the nation and cities.”
He also proposed introducing tax incentives similar to those in the video content sector, which offer reductions of up to 30% on production costs. The proposal suggests supporting the participation costs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) attending forums, seminars, exhibitions, and trade shows held in Korea through tax credits, such as corporate income tax reductions. To alleviate the fiscal burden and prevent the pitfalls of indiscriminate support, he considered it feasible to limit eligibility to events with international certification. Chairman Shin emphasized, “Tax incentives are a ‘two-for-one’ solution that can simultaneously support SMEs and revitalize the domestic MICE market.”
