The 2024 World Korean Business Convention is set to open at Jeonbuk National University, with the university busily preparing to accommodate thousands of visitors and promote North Jeolla's businesses.

Some 240 companies will set up booths at the convention, held at Jeonbuk National University's campus in Jeonju, North Jeolla, between Tuesday and Thursday. The World Korean Business Convention is an annual event launched in 2002, bringing businesses together to promote their products, network and form partnerships.

Jeonbuk National University expects around 2,000 businesspeople from Korea and another 1,000 from abroad to visit the convention, meeting with companies looking to export products or expand internationally.

"This is an important opportunity to showcase Jeonbuk National University to influential businesspeople that drive the global economy," said university president Yang O-bong. "This is the first time the convention is being held at a university, and we have completed all necessary preparations."

The organizing committee had considered hosting the event at the National Intangible Heritage Center, also in Jeonju, but chose Jeonbuk National University due to space limitations and the absence of a convention hall at the heritage center.

To accommodate businesses and visitors during the event, the university built an 8,000-square-meter (86,100-square-foot) dome in its Main Stadium area. The 77th Anniversary Hall inside Jinsudang Hall, along with meeting rooms and the gymnasium, was also renovated for the event.

The university's Auxiliary Stadium will serve as another venue to promote local businesses, hosting the Jeonju International Drone Industry Fair during the three-day convention. Drone companies based in Jeonju will showcase their products and drone football teams will compete.

One goal of the 2024 World Korean Business Convention is to highlight North Jeolla's transformation from an agriculture-centered region to a hub for high-tech industries like secondary batteries, defense, semiconductors, hydrogen and carbon composite materials.

"The region, once centered on agriculture, is transitioning to focus on high-tech industries and Jeonbuk National University is at the heart of this change," said President Yang.

Following the university's selection for the government's Glocal University 30 project last year, it is in the process of creating the Jeonbuk Universities-Industry City (JUIC) Triangle, an industrial cluster to host companies and research centers.

The JUIC at Saemangeum, where its Saemangeum Frontier Campus is located, will focus on secondary batteries, defense and sensory semiconductors. The JUIC in Jeonju and Wanju will focus on green hydrogen, agriculture and life sciences, while the JUIC in Iksan and Jeongeup will form a pet bio and veterinary medicine cluster.

The university plans to host 100 businesses and startups through this initiative, with the goal of creating around 5,000 jobs.

Visitors new to the university can learn more at a promotional center in Jinsudang Hall, where admissions information for the university’s overseas Korean track will also be available.

Various events for students will be held during the convention.

The University Student Startup Competition will take place at Jinsudang Hall on Tuesday, with future entrepreneurs pitching their ideas and attending lectures by professionals.

On Thursday, CEOs will give special lectures offering advice to students interested in working abroad, and internship programs with overseas Korean companies will be introduced.

"Around 20 global economic leaders will offer special lectures for students," said President Yang. "For students to learn from successful business leaders and use that knowledge to expand into global fields is another win for us."

A series of lectures were held in the lead-up to the convention. On Oct. 10, J&K Lee Property President Cho Si-young met with students from the university’s College of Commerce to discuss his experience studying abroad and exporting agricultural products to the United States.

On Monday, Cleannet USA CEO Erick H. Kim gave a lecture on forming a global vision and expanding internationally.

"We see this event as an opportunity for the university to leverage our outstanding infrastructure and give back to the local community. We've been working closely with organizations such as the North Jeolla Provincial Office, Jeonju City Government and Overseas Koreans Agency, holding daily meetings to ensure the event’s success," said President Yang.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]