▲ Photo by The Jeju Weekly

The Korea MICE Alliance Conference and Awards at the 2015 Jeju MICE Expo 2015 took place at the International Conference Center Jeju (ICC JEJU) on Nov 24 to 26.

Over the three days, as many as 500 participants joined meetings and seminars about the latest developments in the MICE field.

After a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov 25, Thomas Hong-tack Kim made the Opening and Keynote Speech on the evolving role of technology in our lives.

Kim was ranked eighth, and the only Asian, in the Top 10 Executive Creative Directors worldwide in the 2013 Directory Big Won Rankings.

▲ Photo by The Jeju Weekly

After 20 years at Cheil Worldwide Korea, Kim launched his own business, “The Playground,” last year and he explained the meaning to participants in Halla Hall.

"What I mean by playground here is a platform where a variety of ideas and actions converge and create fun... My vision is to create a new communication ecosystem.”

Kim spoke at length about the importance of the “ecosystem” to all business in the high-tech age, including the MICE industry.

“It is not about technology or media,” he said, “it is about ecosystem.”

He said if businesses can create a working ecology, such as the Facebook “likes” function, or creative marketing campaigns, they can instigate a culture of sharing and proliferation that can penetrate people’s lives.

“We used to think of information as power, but not anymore. Now, if we have good information, the first thing we want to do is share it with someone else.” He added that technology is nothing unless “it is used for the good of the world.”

He urged MICE leaders to adapt to this rapidly changing world driven by social media and new technologies the industry adapts to the “new ecosystem.”

▲ Photo by The Jeju Weekly

Speeches were also made later in the day by Noor Ahmad Hamid, regional director Asia Pacific of International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), and Leonie Ashford, business events bid manager at Tourism New Zealand.

The event also included activities such as a haenyeo clothes photozone and local food tasting. There were also a number of display booths from the tourism and hospitality sector including leading Jeju hotels and attractions.

Korea MICE Alliance Conference and Awards
Host: Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
Organizers: Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau, Korea Tourism Organization
Sponsors: Korea MICE Association, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), ICC JEJU, Jeju Booyoung Hotel & Resort, Hotel BAREVE