This is a scene from the World Congress of the International Laparoscopic Liver Society and the International Consensus Conference on Minimally Invasive Liver Resections that ran from June 24-27 at COEX Mall in Seoul. (Seoul Metropolitan Government)

By Lee Jihae

Seoul last year ranked No. 1 in Asia and third in the world in the number of international conferences hosted with 180.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on June 30 said this in releasing the results of a study by the Union of International Associations, which surveys such events worldwide, based on 8,859 such conferences in 1,034 cities around the globe.

Seoul last year improved on its 2023 performance, when it finished No. 2 in Asia and fourth in the world.

The top city for hosting international conferences was Brussels, Belgium with 338, followed by Vienna, Austria, with 239. Fourth after Seoul was Barcelona, Spain, with 150 and fifth Tokyo, Japan with 148.

As of December last year, Seoul was named the world's best city for MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) for the 10th consecutive year.

MICE is considered a leading growth industry of the future that yields high added value.

jihlee08@korea.kr