[Interview] CEOs of TIXPASS, Prelude Studio, and DMZ Forest
The final round of the 2025 Goyang MICE Startup League, the Demo Day, was held on September 5 at Goyang Nadeulraon. The Startup League is a competition for MICE startups hosted by Goyang City and organized by the Goyang Convention & Visitors Bureau, designed to enhance the diversity of the MICE industry ecosystem and discover new business ideas.
Eligibility was limited to prospective entrepreneurs and early-stage startups established within the last three years. A total of 36 companies applied, and during July–August they participated every Saturday in programs at the Goyang MICE Incubation Center, strengthening their entrepreneurial capacity. Teams completed eight sessions of practical training, including:
-Concepts and latest trends in the MICE industry
-Exhibition planning and idea discovery
-Business model development
-AI-based business plan writing
-IR pitching strategies
At Demo Day, the final stage, 10 companies competed for the winning trophy. The grand prize went to TIXPASS, which provides an automated MICE event management solution using AI biometric authentication. The Excellence Award went to Prelude Studio, which introduced an AI short-form-based MICE marketing platform, while the Merit Award went to DMZ Forest, which operates wellness content in the DMZ region.
This year, most participants presented AI and digital-based experiential MICE solutions for organizers and attendees, a noteworthy trend. What innovative ideas and potential did the final “Big Three” showcase? The Goyang Convention & Visitors Bureau called them up directly. Here are their stories.
[Grand Prize] Baek Myung-jin, CEO of TIXPASS
“Digitalizing 30% of Korea’s MICE Market Within Three Years”
AI biometric authentication-based automated MICE event management and participant data analytics solution 🌐 tixpass.kr | 📧 sales@tixpass.kr
Q> What kind of company is TIXPASS?
A> TIXPASS is a smart platform company that integrates AI biometric authentication and IoT sensor technology to automate registration, entry, and data analysis at MICE events. Founded in February 2025, our startup delivers tangible benefits: reducing operating costs for organizers (PCOs) by 80%, automatically collecting over 95% of visitor data for exhibitors, and providing zero-wait experiences for attendees. In particular, our IoT-based digital business card and catalog exchange, as well as automated marketing lead collection, address the massive data loss problem in the MICE industry, valued at hundreds of billions of KRW annually.
Q> Congratulations on winning the grand prize. Why do you think your solution was highly rated?
A> I believe it was because we accurately identified real on-site pain points in the MICE industry and proposed a model that delivers immediate value to all stakeholders. Our PCO-friendly policy of charging only kiosk rental fees, our IoT sensors for exhibitors that are 60% cheaper than conventional barcode scanners, and our four patent-backed technologies were recognized. Above all, our concrete and feasible roadmap—operating a one-year testbed at SETEC and digitalizing 30% of the domestic MICE market within three years—left a strong impression.
Q> What motivated you to develop and commercialize this technology?
A> For 12 years, I worked as a MICE PM and saw the frustration of thousands of attendees waiting over 30 minutes for entry, and exhibitors failing to collect visitor data to prove ROI. At the 2023 Daejeon Wine Festival, I witnessed citizens give up after waiting two hours in line. That moment made me determined to solve the problem. Partnering with a veteran IT developer with 25 years’ experience, I became confident that biometric and IoT technology could provide the answer. This aligned with Goyang’s vision of a smart MICE city, and I decided to start TIXPASS.
Q> As a startup less than three years old, what do you expect from Goyang City or the government?
A> Our biggest hurdles have been the conservative nature of the MICE industry and lack of early references. We built credibility through selection for the Korea Tourism Organization’s Tourism Innovation Voucher and successful PoCs in three Daejeon festivals. We have secured a 12-month testbed at SETEC and are collaborating with the Lee Ungno Museum on smart docent projects. To gain firm initial references, we request that Goyang designate small-to-medium public MICE events for mandatory pilot applications, even free of charge. From the government, we seek participation in digital transformation pilot projects for public MICE events and a dedicated accelerator program for MICE startups.
Q> What is your long-term vision?
A> TIXPASS aims to become Asia’s No.1 MICE data platform within three years, setting the industry’s data standard much like Bloomberg did for finance. Beyond ticketing and registration, we will leverage accumulated big data to predict event success and maximize exhibitors’ ROI, while delivering optimal attendee experiences through AI insights. Ultimately, we want to become a unicorn representing Goyang City and strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea’s MICE industry.
[Excellence Prize] Park Hong-joo, CEO of Prelude Studio
“Innovating the Promotion Burden for Organizers”
AI-based one-stop automatic video and music production service 🌐 prelude.best | 📧 ceo@prelude.best
Q> Please introduce Prelude Studio.
A> Prelude Studio develops AI music and video solutions based on copyright-safe resources. Using K-pop content, we provide new creative experiences in the global content market. Through our MICE-ON-AIR platform, we aim to launch an innovative promotional platform that connects all stakeholders in the MICE industry.
Q> How do you assess your Excellence Prize win?
A> MICE-ON-AIR goes beyond simply producing content. It integrates organizers, participants, and audiences into one ecosystem, amplifying event outcomes. I think our innovative approach to alleviating organizers’ greatest burden—promotion—earned us high marks.
Q> Why did you enter this field?
A> Each time we made promotional videos, we faced high costs and heavy outsourcing burdens. During marketing seasons, the need for frequent video production made this even worse. As a singer and marketer myself, I experienced these challenges firsthand, and realized they were identical in the MICE market. That struggle led directly to the idea of MICE-ON-AIR.
Q> What difficulties have you faced as an early-stage startup?
A> With limited manpower and resources, we went through many trials and errors. But by actively reaching out, we secured customers. In Korea, however, failure is often seen as final. If PoC opportunities were more freely available, risks could be reduced, and services could be solidified. If Goyang City and the government expand testbed opportunities for early customer acquisition, it would provide significant support.
Q> What is your future goal?
A> Starting as a promotional solution for MICE participants, we aim to evolve into a platform applicable to diverse companies and global MICE events. Our goal is to help products gain recognition, survive, and expand their market influence. Ultimately, we will become a global partner company that amplifies and expands the value of MICE.
[Participation Prize] Lim Mi-ryeo, CEO of DMZ Forest
“Eight Years in the DMZ, Recognized for Authenticity… Building a Model for K-Peace Tourism”
MICE & Wellness experiences in the restricted forests of the DMZ 🌐 dmzforest.com | 📧 lim@dmzspace.com
Q> The name “DMZ Forest” is unusual. What is your business about?
A> DMZ Forest operates on 100,000㎡ of private woodland in the civilian-controlled zone of the DMZ, a symbol of division in northern Gyeonggi. We offer the world’s only private wellness experiences. Through high-value-added MICE and healing content, we are pioneering a new future for Korean tourism.
Q> Congratulations on the Participation Prize.
A> By leveraging our location just 30 minutes from KINTEX, we proposed a new possibility as premium experiential content that enhances the appeal of Goyang’s MICE industry. I think our authentic story and commitment to sustainability, proven over eight years of execution, were highly valued.
Q> Tourism in the DMZ must not be easy.
A> Eight years ago, I relocated to Paju and saw both the immense potential of the DMZ and the frustrating lack of tourism infrastructure. I dreamed of transforming this scarred land into the most peaceful forest in the world. At the same time, I saw the explosive global demand in the MICE industry for ESG and wellness-oriented unique venues, and connected the two to launch DMZ Forest.
Q> As a startup less than three years old, do you require policy support?
A> Operating in a civilian-controlled zone meant every stage—from permits to development—was a challenge. We overcame this through persistence and built trust with government authorities over eight years. If Goyang City supports joint marketing that connects its MICE events with DMZ Forest, and if regulations are eased considering the border region’s uniqueness, we can generate greater synergy.
Q> What are your future plans?
A> In the short term, we aim to position DMZ Forest as a representative unique venue that leads sustainable MICE with Goyang City. In the long run, we aspire to rebrand the DMZ from a symbol of division into one of peace and healing, presenting a K-Peace Tourism success model applicable to conflict regions worldwide. Our ultimate goal is to grow into a global social venture.
[Interview] CEOs of TIXPASS, Prelude Studio, and DMZ Forest
The final round of the 2025 Goyang MICE Startup League, the Demo Day, was held on September 5 at Goyang Nadeulraon. The Startup League is a competition for MICE startups hosted by Goyang City and organized by the Goyang Convention & Visitors Bureau, designed to enhance the diversity of the MICE industry ecosystem and discover new business ideas.
Eligibility was limited to prospective entrepreneurs and early-stage startups established within the last three years. A total of 36 companies applied, and during July–August they participated every Saturday in programs at the Goyang MICE Incubation Center, strengthening their entrepreneurial capacity. Teams completed eight sessions of practical training, including:
-Concepts and latest trends in the MICE industry
-Exhibition planning and idea discovery
-Business model development
-AI-based business plan writing
-IR pitching strategies
At Demo Day, the final stage, 10 companies competed for the winning trophy. The grand prize went to TIXPASS, which provides an automated MICE event management solution using AI biometric authentication. The Excellence Award went to Prelude Studio, which introduced an AI short-form-based MICE marketing platform, while the Merit Award went to DMZ Forest, which operates wellness content in the DMZ region.
This year, most participants presented AI and digital-based experiential MICE solutions for organizers and attendees, a noteworthy trend. What innovative ideas and potential did the final “Big Three” showcase? The Goyang Convention & Visitors Bureau called them up directly. Here are their stories.
[Grand Prize] Baek Myung-jin, CEO of TIXPASS
“Digitalizing 30% of Korea’s MICE Market Within Three Years”
AI biometric authentication-based automated MICE event management and participant data analytics solution 🌐 tixpass.kr | 📧 sales@tixpass.kr
Q> What kind of company is TIXPASS?
A> TIXPASS is a smart platform company that integrates AI biometric authentication and IoT sensor technology to automate registration, entry, and data analysis at MICE events. Founded in February 2025, our startup delivers tangible benefits: reducing operating costs for organizers (PCOs) by 80%, automatically collecting over 95% of visitor data for exhibitors, and providing zero-wait experiences for attendees. In particular, our IoT-based digital business card and catalog exchange, as well as automated marketing lead collection, address the massive data loss problem in the MICE industry, valued at hundreds of billions of KRW annually.
Q> Congratulations on winning the grand prize. Why do you think your solution was highly rated?
A> I believe it was because we accurately identified real on-site pain points in the MICE industry and proposed a model that delivers immediate value to all stakeholders. Our PCO-friendly policy of charging only kiosk rental fees, our IoT sensors for exhibitors that are 60% cheaper than conventional barcode scanners, and our four patent-backed technologies were recognized. Above all, our concrete and feasible roadmap—operating a one-year testbed at SETEC and digitalizing 30% of the domestic MICE market within three years—left a strong impression.
Q> What motivated you to develop and commercialize this technology?
A> For 12 years, I worked as a MICE PM and saw the frustration of thousands of attendees waiting over 30 minutes for entry, and exhibitors failing to collect visitor data to prove ROI. At the 2023 Daejeon Wine Festival, I witnessed citizens give up after waiting two hours in line. That moment made me determined to solve the problem. Partnering with a veteran IT developer with 25 years’ experience, I became confident that biometric and IoT technology could provide the answer. This aligned with Goyang’s vision of a smart MICE city, and I decided to start TIXPASS.
Q> As a startup less than three years old, what do you expect from Goyang City or the government?
A> Our biggest hurdles have been the conservative nature of the MICE industry and lack of early references. We built credibility through selection for the Korea Tourism Organization’s Tourism Innovation Voucher and successful PoCs in three Daejeon festivals. We have secured a 12-month testbed at SETEC and are collaborating with the Lee Ungno Museum on smart docent projects. To gain firm initial references, we request that Goyang designate small-to-medium public MICE events for mandatory pilot applications, even free of charge. From the government, we seek participation in digital transformation pilot projects for public MICE events and a dedicated accelerator program for MICE startups.
Q> What is your long-term vision?
A> TIXPASS aims to become Asia’s No.1 MICE data platform within three years, setting the industry’s data standard much like Bloomberg did for finance. Beyond ticketing and registration, we will leverage accumulated big data to predict event success and maximize exhibitors’ ROI, while delivering optimal attendee experiences through AI insights. Ultimately, we want to become a unicorn representing Goyang City and strengthen the global competitiveness of Korea’s MICE industry.
[Excellence Prize] Park Hong-joo, CEO of Prelude Studio
“Innovating the Promotion Burden for Organizers”
AI-based one-stop automatic video and music production service 🌐 prelude.best | 📧 ceo@prelude.best
Q> Please introduce Prelude Studio.
A> Prelude Studio develops AI music and video solutions based on copyright-safe resources. Using K-pop content, we provide new creative experiences in the global content market. Through our MICE-ON-AIR platform, we aim to launch an innovative promotional platform that connects all stakeholders in the MICE industry.
Q> How do you assess your Excellence Prize win?
A> MICE-ON-AIR goes beyond simply producing content. It integrates organizers, participants, and audiences into one ecosystem, amplifying event outcomes. I think our innovative approach to alleviating organizers’ greatest burden—promotion—earned us high marks.
Q> Why did you enter this field?
A> Each time we made promotional videos, we faced high costs and heavy outsourcing burdens. During marketing seasons, the need for frequent video production made this even worse. As a singer and marketer myself, I experienced these challenges firsthand, and realized they were identical in the MICE market. That struggle led directly to the idea of MICE-ON-AIR.
Q> What difficulties have you faced as an early-stage startup?
A> With limited manpower and resources, we went through many trials and errors. But by actively reaching out, we secured customers. In Korea, however, failure is often seen as final. If PoC opportunities were more freely available, risks could be reduced, and services could be solidified. If Goyang City and the government expand testbed opportunities for early customer acquisition, it would provide significant support.
Q> What is your future goal?
A> Starting as a promotional solution for MICE participants, we aim to evolve into a platform applicable to diverse companies and global MICE events. Our goal is to help products gain recognition, survive, and expand their market influence. Ultimately, we will become a global partner company that amplifies and expands the value of MICE.
[Participation Prize] Lim Mi-ryeo, CEO of DMZ Forest
“Eight Years in the DMZ, Recognized for Authenticity… Building a Model for K-Peace Tourism”
MICE & Wellness experiences in the restricted forests of the DMZ 🌐 dmzforest.com | 📧 lim@dmzspace.com
Q> The name “DMZ Forest” is unusual. What is your business about?
A> DMZ Forest operates on 100,000㎡ of private woodland in the civilian-controlled zone of the DMZ, a symbol of division in northern Gyeonggi. We offer the world’s only private wellness experiences. Through high-value-added MICE and healing content, we are pioneering a new future for Korean tourism.
Q> Congratulations on the Participation Prize.
A> By leveraging our location just 30 minutes from KINTEX, we proposed a new possibility as premium experiential content that enhances the appeal of Goyang’s MICE industry. I think our authentic story and commitment to sustainability, proven over eight years of execution, were highly valued.
Q> Tourism in the DMZ must not be easy.
A> Eight years ago, I relocated to Paju and saw both the immense potential of the DMZ and the frustrating lack of tourism infrastructure. I dreamed of transforming this scarred land into the most peaceful forest in the world. At the same time, I saw the explosive global demand in the MICE industry for ESG and wellness-oriented unique venues, and connected the two to launch DMZ Forest.
Q> As a startup less than three years old, do you require policy support?
A> Operating in a civilian-controlled zone meant every stage—from permits to development—was a challenge. We overcame this through persistence and built trust with government authorities over eight years. If Goyang City supports joint marketing that connects its MICE events with DMZ Forest, and if regulations are eased considering the border region’s uniqueness, we can generate greater synergy.
Q> What are your future plans?
A> In the short term, we aim to position DMZ Forest as a representative unique venue that leads sustainable MICE with Goyang City. In the long run, we aspire to rebrand the DMZ from a symbol of division into one of peace and healing, presenting a K-Peace Tourism success model applicable to conflict regions worldwide. Our ultimate goal is to grow into a global social venture.