In new normal era, advanced MICE technologies become a fixture in every event venue, giving new experience to planners and attendees. Seoul’s famous offline venues are ready for online or hybrid events with video conference studios that equipped with huge LED screens and state-of-the-art streaming devices.
On 30 and 31 May 2021, the Korean government virtually hosted the 2021 P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) Seoul Summit, with a corresponding onsite event at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in central Seoul. Due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, the summit had been delayed one year which initially scheduled for year 2020 and finally being held virtually for the first time.
Green We Go, Change We Make!
The P4G is a global platform pioneering green partnerships to deliver inclusive market-based solutions, and fostering collaboration between civil society, the private and public sectors with a special emphasis on climate initiatives to build sustainable and resilient communities.
The 2021 P4G Seoul Summit was the first multilateral environmental event hosted by the Republic of Korea at a Summit level. A pre-event to the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit, the discussion was jointly hosted by Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Denmark in USA – The Trade Council of Denmark in North America, and World Resources Institute. The webinar focused on how the U.S. can finance, incubate and scale innovative market-based solutions in developing countries, which can be accelerated and scaled by private sector investment. The event highlighted P4G’s high-impact partnerships and the P4G Summit’s role in being a stepping stone to achieve greenhouse gas reduction goals by 2030, as per the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015. It also featured solutions led by innovative partnerships that could help developing countries leapfrog carbon-dependent infrastructure, accelerate a clean energy transition, and make progress on their increasingly ambitious climate goals.
Let’s take a closer look on how the organiser virtualised the futuristic DDP venue as a digital space for the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit!
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, strict safety measures was carried out including professional disinfection of the entire DDP, placement of hand sanitisers at every entrance, thermographic inspections and requirement of face masks for all attendees, as well as ongoing social distancing regulations amid the pandemic.
Before the event, the organiser implemented real images of the offline venue DDP on the online virtual platform to optimise engagement of the audience into a hybrid setting where online and offline are both offered at the same time.
During the summit, a carbon neutralising event hall was created using advanced IT technology, as well as fully utilises the white walls, floors and high ceilings of the event hall without installing any backdrop to minimise wastage. Hence, Art Hall 1 turned into a virtual forest using AR mapping technology portraying video of forest scenes on 5 sides of the space, giving one of a kind opening ceremony.
You can experience the amazing transformations of the event spaces for various performances of the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit opening ceremony through the video below:
In addition, 3 studios were set up at Design Shop 1st Floor, Design Shop 2nd Floor, Design Museum and had 15 sessions reproduced to broadcast them during the summit as well as live streaming. All venue settings were visually created to be environmentally friendly to suit each topic, and stages with only representative objects were used to maximise eco-friendly manner.
The summit provided a virtual gathering space for world leaders, heads of international organisations, professionals and stakeholders united for climate actions, calling for concrete action to meet ambitious climate commitments.
More than 200 high level officials including policymakers, CEOs, representatives of international organisations and civil societies participated at Green Future Week sessions and Thematic sessions from 24 to 31 May 2021.
Closing the session by signing the #SeoulDeclaration, leaders committed to pursuing collective solutions for a green transition. In the thematic sessions on water, energy, food and agriculture, cities and circular economy, climate champions discussed tangible solutions to spark sustainable growth in developing countries.
One-stop Professional Conference Organiser (PCO)
A leading PCO in South Korea, EZpmp is one of the 35 PCO members in Seoul MICE Alliance, which is a public-private consultative body that comprises of more than 300 MICE industry players to foster the Seoul MICE industry and working towards hosting more events to the city in cooperative promotional activities. The professional EZpmp has a solid track record of achievements in a diverse range of promotional events, exhibitions, conventions and incentives, including events that organised with digital solutions such as 2021 P4G Seoul Summit, 2021 PyeongChang Peace Forum, 2020 Korea MICE Expo and more. In the post-COVID-19 era, the company provides creative solutions by implementing the latest IT and meeting technology such as AR, holograms and more to welcome a new digital era of the MICE industry.
With dedicated EZcommunity, EZpmp offers one-stop services from planning to execution and overall management with its affiliates’s experience and expertise, giving customers the highest satisfaction. EZpmp will be your perfect MICE partner in Seoul!
The Beauty Innovation Behind DDP
Opened on 21 March 2014, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is a massive event space in downtown Seoul which hosts all kinds of exhibitions and fashion shows, serving as an arena for fashion industry events and fulfils its motto “Dream, Design, Play” by pursuing innovative ideas, searching for new talent and striving to make life better for everyone. The DDP was the brainchild of Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon in the mid 2000s, which was his administration’s design initiatives undertaken from July 2006 to August 2011 with the aim of turning Seoul into an international fashion centre as design would increase the brand-value of the city and lead to a growth driver of the Seoul economy.
Since its opening, Seoul established the DDP as a unique venue in strengthening and supporting the nation’s fashion business, as well as transforming the Dongdaemun district that has been traditionally localised as the country’s biggest fashion market into a modern nation’s fashion hub and international tourist destination.
The spaceship-like structure designed by top-notch Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid (1950-2016), who was the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize-Metonymic Landscape, together with the determination of Samsung C&T’s innovation to make the impossible happen. The spectacular appearance of DDP gives a sense of unity to the past, present and future of the historic space, as the building does not distinguish its walls, roofs and columns from each other.
In order to create the unique architectural beauty, the DDP adopted an asymmetrical structure with various shapes of exposed amorphous concrete were introduced both internally and externally. The vast spaces free of columns were achieved by employing mega-trusses and space frames, and various individual spaces have been designed with gentle curves reminiscent of fluid flow. The undulating monolithic structure with perforated skin is made up of 45,133 aluminium panels in all different patterns and sizes, emitting light at night and surprising passerby at their sight. In addition, the 4 green spaces constructed on the roof of the building also offer a new green space within Seoul’s dense urban jungle, while improving the building’s insulation at the same time.
The scale of DDP is magnificent, with a total area of 86,574 square meters that is three times larger than a regular football field, including three basement floors and four floors above ground reaching a height of 29 meters. The spectacular venue provides five facilities with 15 flexible spaces such as an Art Hall, learning Center, Design Lab, Dongdaemun History and Culture Park and Oullium Square. In the post COVID-19 pandemic, DDP also leading digital transformation by offering Seoul ON studio for both online or offline conferences, forums, and diverse MICE events with advanced technology equipment.
Recently, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) Online Design Store has opened, where you can can purchase about 700 products with only a click, from unique designers’ creations to traditional Korean crafts and world-class designers’ products, which were only available at the offline store.
Continuously crowed with visitors from all corners of the globe, including large international exhibitions, futuristic retail stores, and even restored parts of Seoul’s ancient fortress walk, the DDP plays a key role in linking Seoul’s modernity and its storied history. Don’t forget to visit this futuristic landmark of Seoul and plan your memorable event here.
Supporting the Sustainability of Seoul MICE industry
The PLUS SEOUL supports not only shields what are visible but also the well-being of the participants and speakers. The Seoul MICE Safety Care Service is a package of various insurances in which the participants find reassurance with medical care, travel related as well as language services.
Furthermore, the programme offers up to 200 million won (USD 200,000) to international conferences with 50 and more international participants. In the past, only offline conferences were eligible for the subvention. Due to the current situation, the programme is now expanding to Online and Hybrid Conference as well. The grant can be put towards using advanced technology services including video conferencing equipment, It seems like a perfect support considering the new normal trends. For the corporate meetings and incentive trips, the number of participants required to apply for the support was dramatically reduced to 10 in following the trend of MICE groups getting smaller. In addition, there have been listing more Customised Experience programme to broaden the options to suit more participants.
More information available at www.miceseoul.com.