Grand Korea Leisure and COEX partner for tourism and MICE programmes in Seoul
The agreement will bring together GKL’s foreign visitor networks and COEX’s MICE infrastructure.
South Korea.- Grand Korea Leisure (GKL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) to develop tourism and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) programmes for international visitors in Seoul’s Gangnam district. The agreement, signed on September 15, will see the foreigner-only casino operator and convention and exhibition company combine their visitor networks, tourism infrastructure and MICE capabilities.
The companies plan to develop tourism, MICE and cultural programmes for international visitors while jointly promoting international conferences and exhibitions. They will also explore projects with businesses and organisations in the COEX MICE Cluster and exchange data on foreign tourist visits and spending patterns.
The partnership builds on GKL’s existing presence at the COEX complex, where it operates Seven Luck Casino Seoul Gangnam. GKL president Yoon Doo-hyun said the company will use integrated marketing to link its casinos with nearby tourism facilities.
International arrivals to South Korea have been rising. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism figures show that more than 12.8 million foreign tourists visited the country between January and July, 21.3 per cent more than during the same period in 2025. Foreign visitors spent KRW12.86tn (US$9.3bn) through card payments during the seven-month period, up 48.3 per cent from KRW8.15trn (US$5.9bn) a year earlier.
