Seoul holds first-ever gathering of global influencers

Promotional material for the 2023 Seoul Con. (The Seoul Metropolitan Government)

The Seoul city government said Thursday it will host 2023 Seoul Con together with Seoul Business Agency from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1, 2024.

Seoul Con is billed as the world’s first-ever convention for social media influencers. Taking place at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a whopping 3,000 groups representing 50 countries, are to participate in the Seoul Con in its first year, according to city officials.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government hopes to promote Seoul through YouTube and TikTok to boost the exposure of Korean content in the long run. The two platforms' combined followers amount to over 3 billion. The city plans to hold the convention annually and establish Seoul Con as a globally recognized event.

“Seoul Con will be a catalyst for Seoul’s economic growth within the content industry. With a focus on Hallyu content, sustainable fashion and the latest technologies, this event aims to solidify Seoul’s standing in the global social media and business lifestyle industries. Invited content creators, aligned with the Seoul Con’s mission, will converge to collaborate, shaping the event’s narrative and pushing boundaries,” a city official said.

It is expected that Seoul Con will lay the foundation for the expansion of K-content and help Korean products enter overseas markets, the city noted. According to data released by the Export-Import Bank of Korea in May last year, every $100 million in exports of Korean content had the effect of increasing consumer goods exports by $180 million.

“Seoul Business Agency will actively help companies in Seoul to expand overseas by promoting their products through the Seoul Con,” the agency said.

This year's Seoul Con features 28 programs across four fields, including festivals, conferences, content, fashion and beauty and performance and entertainment.

Highlights include on Dec. 30 a fan meeting for T1, winners of the League of Legends World Championship. On Dec. 31, a K-pop concert will be held featuring Jay Park and Chungha. An electronic dance music concert will also be held alongside a New Year's countdown.

Meanwhile, the city government selected six social media influencers to take part in the bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak Pavilion in Jongno, central Seoul, to ring in the new year. They include Jang Elina, a naturalized citizen of Korea from Uzbekistan, and Kika Kim, a Korean national living in Kazakhstan.

By Lee Jaeeun(jenn@heraldcorp.com)