Busan Exhibition and Convention Center

Busan's stage for big events, the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center, universally known as BEXCO, is the city's principal venue for fairs, congresses and cultural spectacles, set in the modern Haeundae district. Since opening at the turn of the millennium it has hosted a string of major international gatherings, cementing Busan's reputation as a leading convention city on the Asian circuit.

It is woven into the city's cultural calendar. BEXCO is a key stage for the Busan International Film Festival, one of Asia's most important film events, and for G-Star, a huge annual video-game show that draws crowds of enthusiasts from across the region. It also served as a venue during the 2005 APEC leaders' summit, and its exhibition halls and auditorium keep it busy year-round with concerts, trade shows and esports finals.

The surroundings add to the appeal. The centre sits amid the gleaming towers of the Centum City development, a district of department stores, cinemas and the Busan Museum of Art, all linked by the metro. That concentration of attractions means a trip to an event at BEXCO can easily be extended into a day of shopping, dining and sightseeing.

For a visit, BEXCO is primarily worthwhile when an exhibition, concert or festival is running, so it pays to check the schedule before making a special trip. It is directly served by its own metro station, fully accessible and easy to reach from Haeundae Beach nearby. For film buffs and gamers in particular, timing a stay to coincide with one of its flagship events turns a functional convention centre into a genuine highlight of a Busan itinerary. Out of season it is quieter, but the surrounding Centum City shops and museums still make the trip worthwhile.