Hallym University MICE Planning and Management Sweeps National Contest, Proving Regional Planning Excellence

Hallym University MICE Wins Top Prize in Nationwide Contest on "Regional Co-Prosperity"
Proposing Actionable Strategies... Demonstrating Capacity to Nurture Future-Oriented MICE Talent

Students majoring in MICE Planning and Management at Hallym University (President Choi Yanghee) achieved outstanding results in nationwide competition by winning the Grand Prize, Excellence Award, and Encouragement Award at the "2025 MICE Integrated Academic Conference University Student Contest" held at COEX in Seoul on November 5.

Students from Hallym University who won the Grand Prize at the 2025 MICE Integrated Academic Conference University Student Contest. Provided by Hallym University

This integrated academic conference was co-hosted by the Korea Trade Exhibition Association, the Korea MICE Tourism Association, and the Korea Business Events Convention Association. Under the theme of "Strategies for Regional Co-Prosperity in the MICE Industry," it provided a platform for academia, industry, and local government officials to discuss balanced regional development and sustainable growth strategies for the MICE industry.

The contest, held for university students across the country, focused on "Planning Regionally Specialized MICE Events and Developing Tourism and Cultural Programs." A total of 32 teams from across the nation participated in the preliminary round, with 14 teams advancing to the finals.

Hallym University demonstrated exceptional planning skills and practical competitiveness, with all three of its finalist teams winning the Grand Prize, Excellence Award, and Encouragement Award. The Grand Prize went to the team of Lee Gunhee, Kim Sumin, Won Sehan, and Lee Nayoung, who proposed a regionally specialized MICE project titled "High Fortress: Transforming Goseong into a Military Cultural Hub," aiming to develop Goseong, Gangwon Province, as a center for military culture tourism.

The team's strategic approach of utilizing military facilities as tourism resources and linking them with exhibitions and conventions received high praise. The Excellence Award was given to the team of Lee Yeji, Kang Heewon, and Oh Nayoung for their project "A Day in Jeonju Filled with Warmth," which connected Jeonju's traditional culture and emotional tourism with MICE programs. Their harmonious integration of the region's identity and sustainable tourism content was highly regarded.

The Encouragement Award went to the team of Ahn Nahyun, Kim Jaehun, Lee Yeji, and Choi Seoyoon for their project "DMZ: The Forgotten Chronicles." This team proposed an international convention on the themes of peace and human rights, utilizing the historical value of the DMZ, and was recognized for combining a strong social message with practical feasibility.

Professor Yoon Eunju of Hallym University stated, "In the face of the crisis of regional extinction, the MICE industry can be a key solution for revitalizing local economies. The fact that students did not stop at presenting ideas but developed actionable strategies from an industrial perspective was highly praised."

She added, "We will continue to strengthen industry-academia collaboration and field-based projects so that students can grow into creative and globally competitive MICE planners who connect industry challenges with societal issues."

Meanwhile, the MICE Planning and Management major at Hallym University operates an education program that integrates industry, education, and technology, focusing on training practical talent capable of responding to the evolving MICE industry. The program continues to strengthen field-based projects, industry-academia cooperation programs, and education centered on the digital transformation of the exhibition industry, while continuously developing region- and industry-linked practical education models.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.