Changwon Exhibition Convention Center

What Changwon Exhibition Convention Center does

Changwon Exhibition Convention Center (CECO) is a government-owned MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) facility located in Seongsan-gu, Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. It was established around 2012, with operations originally run by COEX Korea and transitioned to the (재)경상남도관광재단 (Gyeongnam Tourism Foundation) starting in 2021-2023. The venue is jointly owned by Gyeongsangnam-do Province and Changwon City and serves as the primary large-scale exhibition and convention infrastructure for the southern Gyeongnam region. CECO's core offerings include three exhibition halls (Hall 1, 2, 3), convention halls (II, III), and multiple meeting rooms (301, 302, 600-607), supported by warehouse storage (P1-P3, C3, W1 floors), commercial amenities, and parking across a total floor area of 78,928.61㎡.

The center generates revenue through five primary streams: (1) exhibition and convention space rental on a transaction basis; (2) outsourced catering and F&B concessions operated under a competitive bid structure (12% commission on total sales with a 460 million KRW annual minimum guarantee from 2023); (3) recurring office and commercial space leases on floors 1, 8, 9, and 10 (e.g., convenience store at ~19.8 million KRW/year, coffee shop at ~9.7 million KRW/year); (4) warehouse storage leasing for registered exhibitors; and (5) event support services including booth installation and equipment rental. Customers comprise exhibition organizers, convention planners, F&B operators, and office/retail tenants, with all long-term concessions awarded through public competitive bidding via the OnBid, G2B (나라장터), and iMarketKorea electronic procurement systems. Marketing is conducted through the official website, Korea Tourism Organization's VR platform, and government MICE channels (KTO, Korea MICE Association, ICCA, AKEI).

Name

Changwon Exhibition Convention Center

Legal name

Changwon Exhibition Convention Center (CECO)

Website

https://ceco.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CECO is a government-owned convention and exhibition venue in Changwon, South Korea, operated by the Gyeongnam Tourism Foundation. It provides exhibition halls, convention halls, meeting rooms, and supporting F&B, office, and warehouse facilities to event organizers and commercial tenants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Exhibition and Convention Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Conference & Convention Center Catering (THAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Exhibition venue rental
• Convention facility hosting
• MICE event services
• Meeting room rental
• Event space leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Exhibition and Convention Space Rental: Revenue generated from renting exhibition halls (Hall 1, 2, 3), convention halls, and meeting rooms to event organizers, exhibition operators, and convention planners.
2. Catering and F&B Concession: Catering and F&B operations are outsourced to a selected operator via competitive bidding. The operator pays a commission fee on total sales (minimum 12% of total sales per the 7th bid) and an annual minimum guarantee (460 million KRW per year for 2023+). The concession covers banquet catering, kitchen facilities, buffet, and restaurant operations.
3. Office and Commercial Space Leasing: Leasing of office units (floors 1, 8, 9, 10) and commercial spaces (convenience store, coffee shop) within the center via competitive bidding on a fixed-term permit basis. Rents are paid annually or monthly by tenants.
4. Warehouse Storage Leasing: Leasing of warehouse storage spaces (P1, P2, P3, C3, W1 floors) to registered exhibitors and event operators.
5. Event Support Services: Revenue from booth installation services, equipment rental, and event-related services for exhibitions and conventions held at the center.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Changwon Exhibition Convention Center (CECO) rents physical event infrastructure to organizers, including three exhibition halls (Hall 1, Hall 2, Hall 3), two large convention halls (Convention Hall II and III), and meeting rooms (301, 302, 600-607). The center also leases office units on floors 1, 8, 9, and 10, warehouse storage (P1-P2, C3, W1), and commercial spaces, while outsourced caterers run on-site F&B operations for events. Targeted at exhibition operators, association conferences, corporate events, and government events in South Korea's southern Gyeongsangnam-do region.

Product overview

Changwon Exhibition Convention Center (CECO) is a comprehensive MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) facility operated by Gyeongnam Tourism Organization. The center offers a unified venue platform consisting of exhibition halls (전시장), convention halls (컨벤션홀), and meeting rooms (회의실) available for rent. Supporting services include business/commercial office facilities, warehouse spaces, convenience amenities, catering and F&B services, and parking. The center also hosts the annual CECO DAY cultural festival and provides virtual tour capabilities. The facility is located in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibition Hall Rental (전시장) Rental of multi-purpose exhibition halls (Hall 1, Hall 2, Hall 3) for trade shows, exhibitions, and large-scale events, with associated booth installation, equipment rental, and event support services. Targeted at exhibition organizers, associations, and corporations.
• Convention Hall Rental (컨벤션홀) Rental of large convention hall facilities including Convention Hall II and III for conferences, academic events, major conventions, and large-scale ceremonies. Targeted at conference organizers, academic associations, and corporations.
• Meeting Room Rental (회의실) Rental of various-sized meeting rooms including rooms 301, 302, and 600-607 with associated equipment usage fees, for seminars, business meetings, and smaller gatherings. Targeted at corporate and association event organizers.
• Office Space Leasing (업무시설) Long-term lease of office units on floors 1, 8, 9, and 10 of the CECO building via competitive bidding for businesses operating within the convention center. Targeted at office-based businesses seeking venue-adjacent corporate addresses.
• Warehouse Storage Leasing (창고시설) Lease of warehouse storage space on floors P1, P2, C3, and W1 to registered exhibitors and event operators to support exhibition and event operations. Targeted at registered exhibitors and event organizers.
• Commercial Space Leasing (상업시설) Lease of convenience store and coffee shop premises within the CECO building via competitive bidding, with annual rents of approximately 19,823,040 KRW (convenience store) and 9,680,680 KRW (coffee shop). Targeted at retail tenants serving visitors, exhibitors, and event attendees.
• Catering and F&B Operations Concession Outsourced catering and F&B service concession covering banquet catering, kitchen facilities, buffet operations (1,271.43㎡), and restaurant operations (266.08㎡) across the venue's 1,537.51㎡ F&B area, operated by an elected concessionaire on a commission basis (12% of total sales, minimum 460 million KRW/year for 2023+). Targeted at event organizers requiring on-site food and beverage services and visitors seeking dining options.
• Parking Services (주차시설) On-site parking facilities with parking guidance services and CCTV-monitored security (99 cameras) for visitors, exhibitors, and event attendees. Targeted at visitors and event participants arriving at CECO for exhibitions, conventions, conferences, and cultural events.
• CECO Virtual Tour (CECO 버추얼투어) VR virtual reality tour service hosted on the Korea Tourism Organization MICE platform (k-mice.visitkorea.or.kr) and onna.me/ceco, allowing prospective event organizers and visitors to remotely explore CECO's exhibition halls, convention halls, meeting rooms, and exterior facilities. Targeted at prospective event planners, exhibition organizers, and international convention buyers evaluating the venue remotely.
• CECO DAY Cultural Festival (제10회 CECO DAY 한잔하세코) Annual outdoor cultural festival hosted at the CECO outdoor plaza with flea markets, K-POP performances, food stalls, and community engagement programs. Targeted at local citizens, visitors, and families in Changwon and the Gyeongsangnam-do region.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gyeongnam Tourism Foundation (경상남도관광재단)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gyeongnam Tourism Foundation serves as the primary management organization of CECO, overseeing the center's operations and development. The foundation manages marketing, event attraction programs, and facility operations.
• Gyeongsangnam-do Province (경상남도)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGyeongsangnam-do Province is the primary owner of CECO and provides government oversight, policy support, and MICE industry development funding for the center.
• Changwon City (창원특례시)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChangwon City is a co-owner of CECO and provides municipal support for the center's operations and regional event promotion.
• Korea Tourism Organization (한국관광공사)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerKTO supports CECO's promotion through the Korea MICE tourism ecosystem and hosts the CECO VR virtual tour on its platform, expanding the center's visibility to international event planners.
• Korea MICE Association (한국마이스협회)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Korea MICE Association provides industry networking, promotion, and advocacy support for CECO as part of the national MICE industry ecosystem.
• Korea Exhibition Industry Promotion Association (한국전시산업진흥회)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAKEI supports CECO's exhibition promotion activities and connects the center with exhibition industry stakeholders.
• ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerICCA membership connects CECO with the international convention and meeting industry, supporting global event attraction efforts.
• SWM (Security Contractor)minorOthersSWM is the contracted security service provider responsible for the installation and management of CCTV surveillance systems (99 cameras) at CECO for public safety and fire prevention purposes.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• aT Center (Agricultural Trade Center): Seoul-based exhibition and convention facility primarily focused on agricultural and food trade shows; partial overlap with CECO as a Korean exhibition venue with MICE capabilities.

Direct peers

• COEX (Convention & Exhibition Center): Seoul-based convention and exhibition complex that previously operated CECO and remains a direct functional peer — operating exhibition halls, convention halls, and meeting rooms for the same MICE customer base in South Korea.
• SETEC (Seoul Trade Exhibition & Convention Center): Seoul exhibition and convention venue focused on trade exhibitions and B2B events; comparable in offering a multi-hall MICE facility targeting exhibition organizers and corporate events.
• DCC (Daejeon Convention Center): Daejeon-based convention center hosting exhibitions, conventions, and academic conferences; functionally comparable venue competing in the same Korean regional MICE market.
• BEXCO (Busan Exhibition & Convention Center): Busan's flagship convention and exhibition venue; a direct regional competitor offering comparable exhibition halls, convention halls, and meeting rooms targeting Korean and international MICE organizers.
• EXCO (Daegu Exhibition & Convention Center): Daegu-based convention and exhibition center operating under a similar public-ownership model; directly comparable as another regional Korean MICE venue serving exhibition, convention, and meeting demand.

Broad incumbents

• KINTEX (Korea International Exhibition & Convention Center): Korea's largest exhibition and convention complex located in Goyang; a larger incumbent competing for the same national and international MICE events that CECO targets.

Regional players

• ICC Jeju (International Convention Center Jeju): Jeju Island convention center operating as a destination MICE venue for international incentive events and conferences; comparable function but in a distinct resort/island geography.
• Songdo Convensia: Incheon-based convention and exhibition center in the Songdo international business district; comparable MICE venue focused on attracting international conferences, though operating in a different metropolitan region.
• Kim Dae-jung Convention Center: Gwangju-based convention center hosting exhibitions, conventions, and cultural events; comparable regional MICE venue serving southwestern Korea.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Changwon Exhibition Convention Center