More than 250 people attended the Ispo Academy held for the first time in Seoul earlier this month. Organized at the Textile Center on Nov. 7-8, in partnership with the Korea Outdoor & Sports Industry Association (KOIA), it brought together brand owners and retailers to hear about the development of outdoor and sports markets in Korea and abroad. Manufacturing and consumption trends were among the most relevant topics for the participants, but many brand owners were also eager to hear about ways to expand their business outside of the Korean market. While it remains one of the largest markets for outdoor products, the Korean industry has been suffering from over-supply in the last years. Such events have already been held in two other Asian countries, in China and Japan, and the level of attendance at the first edition in Seoul is apparently encouraging Messe München to consider a repeat. Read our report from the Korean market in one of the upcoming issues of The Compass.

Topics