According to the Belgium-based research group, Union of International Associations (UIA), Seoul finished ninth among world cities in the number of international conventions and meetings hosted last year.

From the 2005 International Conference Statistics by Union of International Associations (UIA), Seoul hosted 108 international conventions, conferences, tradeshows and other professional events in 2005.

London, U.K. placed eighth with 128 events and New York was seventh with 129 events for 2005.

Compared to 2004, Seoul placed tenth on UIA’s 2004 list.

By country, Korea finished 14th in the number of international meetings hosted with 185 events in 2005. As noted in the UIA report, Korea has demonstrated rapid growth, 120% over the past 10 years, as an international conference host.

Within Asia, Korea as a country and the city of Seoul both placed 2nd.

Conferences held in 2005 span such industries as medical, tourism, environment, construction,

energy and more.

In addition to the wide range of hotels available throughout the city, modern convention and exhibition facilities available in Seoul include Convention & Exhibition Center, Korea International Exhibition Center and Seoul Trade Exhibition Center.

Additionally, throughout Korea conference organizers have BEXCO in Busan, EXCO in Daegu and on Korea’s subtropical island – Jeju Island, ICC Jeju.

UIA counts only the events organized by multinational groups of their regional branches, participated in by more than 300 people from at least five countries, and which continued for more than three days.