Korea will develop a special edition of the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies (IJBEL) in collaboration with Curtin University Malaysia, aiming to strengthen global research on business events and legacy impact. The project, announced at the 64th ICCA Congress 2025 in Porto, brings together leading Korean and international institutions to produce the 2026 IJBEL Korea Special Edition.
The initiative is designed to expand academic exchange between Korea and global partners while supporting research, policy and best practices in the fast-growing MICE sector. The Goyang Convention Bureau will lead the collaboration, which also includes the Korea MICE Tourism Society and the Institute of Convention and Exhibition Management.
Collaboration builds new research pathways
The Goyang Convention Bureau, part of the Goyang International Expo Foundation, will work alongside Curtin University Malaysia to publish the special edition and coordinate a legacy forum during Goyang Destination Week. The edition will highlight research on business events and long-term impact, an area of growing importance for destinations competing for international meetings.
Amelia Roziman, IJBEL Advisor and CEO of Business Events Sarawak, welcomed the announcement. “We are extremely proud to see IJBEL shaping conversations and directing change worldwide,” said Amelia Roziman, IJBEL Advisor and CEO of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak). “Through IJBEL, Korea can showcase its MICE excellence, contribute valuable global best practices, and further strengthen its position within the international business events and legacy community.”
The Korea MICE Tourism Society and the Institute of Convention and Exhibition Management will contribute academic expertise to the special edition. The two organisations, led by Professor Han Jin-young of Gwandong University and Professor Yoon Eun-joo of Hallym University, are recognised for advancing MICE research and publication in Korea.
Strengthening global impact through academic leadership
The collaboration is designed to consolidate Korea’s growing influence in international business events and enhance its academic footprint through partnerships with global institutions. Dr Peter Lee, Executive Director of the Goyang Convention Bureau, said the partnership reflects shared strategic priorities. “Korea has strategically advanced its destination development and established a strong academic ecosystem that consistently delivers exceptional outcomes,” said Dr Peter Lee, Executive Director of the Goyang Convention Bureau, Goyang International Expo Foundation. “This partnership represents a powerful alignment of shared values and shared ambitions. Together, we are building a future where our collective strengths can create greater global impact.”
The special edition will focus on business events legacy development, one of the journal’s core areas. As the world’s first academic journal dedicated to integrating business events and legacy impact, IJBEL plays a key role in documenting long-term benefits for host destinations, associations and communities.
Associate Professor Goi Chai Lee, Editor-in-Chief of IJBEL, said the Korea Special Edition marks an important step in expanding international contributions to the journal. “The Korea Special Edition represents a pivotal milestone in IJBEL’s ongoing development,” said Associate Professor Goi Chai Lee, Editor-in-Chief of IJBEL and Associate Professor at Curtin University Malaysia’s Faculty of Business. “As the world’s first academic journal to integrate business events and legacy impact, we encourage more legacy-driven destinations, associations and academic communities to participate and contribute to shaping this important and rapidly emerging body of knowledge.”
The collaboration underscores a broader shift within the global MICE sector toward evidence-based strategies and long-term legacy measurement. By developing a special edition rooted in Korean leadership and international cooperation, IJBEL aims to advance academic discourse while supporting destinations seeking to measure the wider impact of events.
The 2026 IJBEL Korea Special Edition is expected to provide new research perspectives, strengthen Korea’s role in global academic networks and support future policy development in the business events industry. Additional details and full findings will be available through IJBEL’s official platform at ijbelegacy.com.
The photo shows, from left: Prof. Jack Singh (BESarawak Board Member), Datu Hii Chang Kee (BESarawak Chairman), Amelia Roziman (BESarawak CEO and IJBEL advisor), The Hon. Datuk Sebastian Ting (Deputy Minister for Tourism Sarawak), Dr Peter Lee (Executive Director, Goyang CVB), Professor Han Jin-young of Korea MICE Tourism Society, and Professor Yoon Eun-joo of ICEM
