GroundK, a tourism mobility startup, has signed a memorandum of understanding with InterCom, one of Korea's leading professional conference organizers (PCO). The two companies sealed the agreement at InterCom's D2 Studio, pledging to seek joint strategies that raise the competitiveness of K-MICE and uncover new business through technology-driven efficiency across the MICE ecosystem.
Why the two companies joined forces
At the heart of the agreement is a shared goal: to reshape the MICE market through IT. GroundK and InterCom held their signing ceremony at InterCom's D2 Studio and agreed to cooperate across a range of areas, working to strengthen K-MICE and to identify new MICE ventures. Together they will pursue a joint response to improving operational efficiency as technology changes the way events are run.
What gives the partnership weight is the pairing itself: GroundK's technology and know-how alongside the international-conference operating experience InterCom has built over decades.
Who InterCom is
Founded in 1985, InterCom is one of Korea's representative Global PCOs, raising the standing of K-MICE through a long record of major international conferences. The company helped elevate K-MICE with the 56th ADB Annual Meeting in May 2023, along with the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit and the Seoul G20 Summit, among many others.
The World Knowledge Forum and the Global Breast Cancer Conference (GBCC), held in 2000 and 2007 respectively, became signature Korean conventions, and the GBCC was named an Outstanding K-Convention by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In early 2023 InterCom appointed Seok Jae-min as co-CEO, beginning a Choi Tae-young and Seok Jae-min leadership structure and continuing an ambitious push to bring fresh change to the MICE market.
What GroundK brings to the table
GroundK is a specialist in tourism transportation, developing and supplying T-RiseUp, a SaaS-based fleet asset management system for transport operators. On the strength of that technology, the company also runs tailored mobility services for businesses and institutions.
GroundK has built its own track record at events including the 56th ADB Annual Meeting — the same gathering InterCom worked on — as well as the Korea-Pacific Islands Summit, the Climate Industry International Expo, and the 18th Sakyadhita International Conference. When a PCO with operating depth and a mobility company with technology come together, efficiency on the MICE floor can move to a new level.
The vision the two CEOs set out
Jang Dong-won, CEO of GroundK, framed his expectations for the collaboration this way.
We expect great synergy as InterCom's operating capabilities combine with GroundK's technology and know-how. We will work on many fronts to advance the global tourism and MICE industry. — Jang Dong-won, CEO of GroundK
Seok Jae-min, CEO of InterCom, underscored a longer-term commitment to new business and to nurturing startups.
From a mid- to long-term perspective of reaching beyond Korea to the global market, we will discover new business together with GroundK. We will create an environment where promising startups can grow. — Seok Jae-min, CEO of InterCom
Beginning with this agreement, the two companies plan to keep cooperating across areas that range from new business discovery to startup development.
