Mayor Jin Gyohun of Gangseo-gu: "A Future Economic City Where Science and Culture Converge... Gangseo's Map Will Change"

First International Business Expo Hosted by a Seoul District
1,200 Participants from 75 Countries Gather: "Gangseo-gu Makes Its Mark"

Jin Gyohoon, Mayor of Gangseo District in Seoul, described Gangseo as a "future economic city where science, technology, and culture converge," sharing his vision to showcase the potential of Magok to the world. This is the first time a district-level local government in Seoul has hosted a large-scale international business expo.

Gangseo District held the "27th World Korean Representatives Conference and 2026 Korea Business Expo Gangseo" at COEX Magok from March 30 to April 1. Over 1,200 participants attended, including approximately 250 overseas local buyers from 75 countries and 950 buyer members of World-OKTA, who conducted one-on-one export consultations with domestic small and medium-sized enterprises.

Jin Gyohoon, Mayor of Gangseo District, is explaining the details at the "27th World Korean Representatives Conference and 2026 Korea Business Expo Gangseo" held at COEX Magok on the 31st. Provided by Gangseo District.

At a press briefing on March 31, Mayor Jin explained, "Two years ago, I attended a World-OKTA event in Vienna, Austria with about 10 local entrepreneurs and witnessed the network and capabilities of World-OKTA firsthand. With the opening of COEX Magok approaching, I thought it would be great to host such a conference in Gangseo District." After six months of preparation, the district was finally selected in May last year as the venue for this year's expo.

Mayor Jin also explained that COEX Magok, its proximity to Gimpo and Incheon airports, the concentration of research and development (R&D) industrial complexes, and nearby hotels all make the area well-suited for hosting large-scale international events. In fact, COEX Magok is a multi-purpose MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) facility with an exhibition space of 7,452 square meters and the "Le West Hall," which can accommodate up to 2,200 people. From the second basement level to the fifth floor, each floor is equipped with exhibition halls and meeting rooms, and from the sixth floor it connects directly to the Mercure Hotel, making it optimized for hosting complex events that combine exhibitions and conventions in a "ConfEX" format.

The venue is also directly connected to subway lines 5 and 9 and the Airport Railroad. The area is further supported by infrastructure such as the Seoul Botanic Park, LG Art Center, and Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

He stated, "Many visitors have expressed surprise, asking if Gangseo District really has such infrastructure. This confirmed that the starting point of this event was to promote Gangseo District's infrastructure." At this event, 54 companies based in Gangseo District set up booths, and the district's medical infrastructure was also highlighted.

Mayor Jin also unveiled a blueprint for urban redevelopment. He emphasized, "If the entire Line 5 train depot and construction waste treatment facility are relocated, about 200,000 square meters of new land will become available, which will transform the map of Gangseo."

Near National Assembly Avenue in Hwagok-dong, the designation of an area for the urban public housing complex project has paved the way for the construction of about 6,000 new apartment units, and upon completion of the redevelopment promotion projects in sections 2, 3, 5, and 6 of Banghwa-dong, an additional 4,500 units will be supplied. He said, "The growth of Magok, redevelopment and reconstruction of old towns, and improvements in transportation are all progressing in tandem. I am confident that Gangseo District, equipped with diverse infrastructure in transportation, business, culture, and healthcare, will continue to advance going forward."

Jin Kyohun, Mayor of Gangseo District (left), and Park Jongbeom, President of World-OKTA (right), smile as they touch products at the event venue. Courtesy of Gangseo District Office.

Park Jongbeom, President of World-OKTA (World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations), also highly praised Magok's international event infrastructure and emphasized the tangible results of this conference. Park remarked, "Everything from exhibition and convention spaces to forum rooms, accommodations, and restaurants is within a 5- to 10-minute walk, so there is no need to go outside. Magok's excellent accessibility left a strong impression on our members."

This expo was co-hosted by World-OKTA, the Seoul Business Agency, and Gangseo District, with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, KOTRA, Overseas Koreans Agency, and the Korea Tourism Organization. World-OKTA plans to hold the 30th World Korean Business Convention in Shenzhen, China, from October 8 to 11 this year.

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