Thirteen startups unite for MICE digital transformation

The MICE-Tech Industry Council held its kickoff and launch event on July 15 at Maru360 in Gangnam, Seoul. Thirteen startups participated, including GroundK, Lubook, MICELink, Manmanhanyeosseokdeul, Maze, Blue Origin, CircleConnection, OpenerDOC, OnOffMix, WisL, Eventus, EasyTask, and CampusStay.

The participating companies announced they would operate as a private-sector-led coalition dedicated to the digital transformation of the MICE industry and regulatory innovation.

"We will lead a private-sector-driven digital transformation"

Jang Dong-won, CEO of GroundK, was elected as the council's first chair. "The convergence of MICE and technology is not mere digitalization — it is the creation of a new business order," he said. "We will lead a private-sector-driven digital transformation grounded in policy proposals that reflect the voice of the industry and in collaborative models between companies."

For efficient operations, the council has established three divisions: a technology division (led by Ahn Young-hak, CEO of Eventus), a planning division (led by Hwang Sung-min, CEO of OpenerDOC), and a public relations division (led by Lee Hyun-jin, CEO of MICELink). Professor Yoon Young-hye of Dongduk Women's University will serve as advisor, supporting the council's strategic direction going forward.

Three core goals: digital innovation, policy proposals, and network-building

The council has set three detailed objectives: digital innovation in the MICE industry; cross-sector network-building and the discovery of collaborative models; and policy proposals, regulatory improvements, and forums directed at government and related agencies. In particular, the council plans to expand meaningful points of contact with government policy by operating as a private-sector-centered policy platform led by startups.

The MICE industry is gaining attention as a core sector — a collective platform grounded in hyper-connectivity and hyper-intelligence — that leads cross-industry convergence and reflects social change. The council plans to drive the digital transformation of MICE based on field expertise and private-sector autonomy, and to strengthen global competitiveness for sustainable growth.

"A model for private-sector-led problem-solving"

Koo Tae-un, vice chair of the Korea Startup Forum, said: "This council's launch will serve as a model for a private-sector-led problem-solving structure — a collective response by the startup community to the urgent reality of an industry in need of digital transformation." He added, "We hope the government and local authorities will redefine MICE as a strategic industry and, through deregulation and institutional reform, help build a Korean MICE model with genuine global competitiveness."

The Korea Startup Forum is South Korea's largest startup organization, with approximately 2,500 startups and innovative companies as members. It operates several affiliated councils — including the Telemedicine Industry Council and the LegalTech Industry Council — as well as an AI think tank, and serves as a channel for gathering industry opinion to drive institutional improvement and market activation.

▸ View original: Platum