Gyeongju Pledges Successful APEC 2025 Korea Meeting

Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young explains Gyeongju’s vision at a meeting of ranking city officials ahead of the APEC 2025 Korea. (Photos: Gyeongju City)

Mayor Joo Nak-young said the municipal government has been concentrating administrative capabilities on successfully hosting the APEC 2025 Korea, slated for late October.

“Gyeongju has a track record of successfully hosting international events, such as the G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting, UNWTO General Assembly and OWHC General Assembly in the past,” Mayor Joo said.

The following are excerpts of a written interview with Mayor Joon, in which he spoke of his city government’s preparations for core areas, including major conference halls, accommodation facilities and transportation networks.

Question: Will you tell us about Gyeongju’s preparations for hosting the APEC 2025 Korea, which will bring together heads of state from 12 countries?

Answer: Gyeongju City has been mobilizing all administrative capabilities to successfully host the APEC 2025 Korea, slated for late October.

With some two months for the opening of the APEC 2025 Korea, Gyeongju City is in a final stage of a detailed action plan prioritizing four core areas — major conference halls, accommodation facilities, transportation networks and medical delivery systems.

With the APEC Preparation and Support Committee taking the lead, working-level taskforce teams have been operating in 10 sectors, including accommodation, transportation, tourism, landscape, safety and cultural events, and we’re closely cooperating with national security, protocol, interpretation and safety systems.

Going beyond simply hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, we aim to have APEC participants bring good memoires in Gyeongju.

To this end, we’re making preparations, including rehearsals, mock situation drills, and civic welcoming campaigns.

A whole view of the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO), the venue of the main conference halls of the APEC 2025 Korea.

Q: Can you elaborate on matters related to security, safety, accommodation and transportation infrastructure as the venue of the APEC 2025 Korea?

A: Gyeongju has a track record of successfully hosting international events, such as the G20 Finance Ministers’ Meeting, UNWTO General Assembly and OWHC General Assembly in the past.

During the upcoming APEC meeting, related organizations, such as the National Security Council, the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency and the National Intelligence Service have been building a three-layer security and safety system.

Gyeongju has secured a combined 1,3000 rooms, including those of deluxe hotels, hanok hotels, resorts and premium guesthouses, and suites for VIPs have been placed in downtown areas of Gyeongju and the Bomun Tourist Complex.

With a focus on Gyeongju on the KTX line, shuttle buses connecting Gimhae and Pohang ports will be operating. EV buses and eco-friendly shuttles will be put into operation.

During the event, traffic flows will be managed in a seamless fashion.

Q: Can you talk about the size of main event venues of the meetings, facilities and sub-event sites?

A: The venue of main summit conferences is Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO), covering 31,872 sq. meters.

HICO has summit conference halls, bilateral conference halls and APEC Business Advisory Council halls.

The progress of the work of reinforcing the ceiling of the conference hall on the third floor stands at 40 percent.

The International Media Center will be located in the outside exhibition hall of HICO.

The progress of work on press support facilities, such as a main briefing room, a press room, a lunge and interview rooms, stands at 60 percent.

Sub-event sites include an economic exhibition, to be created at the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park.

The 2,700 square-meter exhibition will be outfitted with an industry history pavilion, an advanced future industry pavilion, and a corporate pavilion. The progress of the work on the facilities stands at 50 percent.

All facilities will be dedicated in September and a comprehensive rehearsal will take place in October to upgrade preparations to top levels.

A tourist EV passes along a flower area of Cheomseongdae, an astronomical observatory in Gyeongju, a city rich with ancient Sila relics and heritage.

Q: Will you elaborate on Gyeongju’s tourist programs and plans to reinvigorate the tourism industry during the APEC period?

A: Gyeongju will hold “APEC Tourism Week” so that conference participants and their families, foreign press corps, and related officials are given the chance to experience the city’s charm at firsthand.

The representative programs include a specialized night tour of the Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, a tradition and modernity experience program along Hwangnidan Street, a tour of the renovated Sila Royal Capital and a drone light show at the Bomun Lake.

Q: Will you introduce programs to welcome APEC participants and cultural events?

A: Gyeongju City plans to offer programs blending tradition and modernity to warmly welcome heads of state from countries across the nation and delegations.

A welcoming reception will take place the eve of an opening day to showcase elegant cultural programs with Sila gold crowns, gayageum music and traditional dances.

Gyeongju’s diverse charm and gems will be shown through outdoor performances using the city’s night views and cultural heritage, Korean and foreign art troupes’ special performances and advanced cultural content display compassing digital media.

Wives of each country’s heads of state and delegations will be given the chance to experience Korea’s traditional culture, such as wearing hanbok (Korean costume), traditional tea tasting, ceramic, craft production experiences.

Q: What steps will Gyeongju take to realize inclusive growth during the APEC CEO Summit and promote mutual cooperation?

A: Gyeongju City seeks to utilize the APEC CEO Summit as a good opportunity to expand networks with businessmen and economic leaders from countries across the world.

During the APEC period, Gyeongju will operate booths for local companies to attract investments and promote the city’s core growth areas, such as advanced manufacturing, energy, tourism, and culture content industries.

In particular, the city will build foundation for inclusive growth by aggressively suggesting cooperation possibilities in eco-friendly, digital transition and culture tourism convergence industries.

Gyeongju will strive to create jobs for regional youth and expedite technology exchanges by striking MOUs with companies of participating APEC countries and ramp up foothold to enter global markets.

Q: What economic spillover effects will the APEC 2025 Korea bring to the regional economy?

A: APEC 2025 Korea is expected to have significant spillover effects throughout the economic sector of the city.

It is expected to see consumption jump in accommodation, transportation, dining and tourism sectors in the course of the preparation and operation of the meeting, thus invigorating regional commercial districts and job creation.

International news outlets’ coverage of APEC 2025 Korea is likely to boost tourism revenues and the city’s brand value by expanding the inbound tourist inflow from a long-term perspective. Investment and exchange deals during the APEC CEO Summit and side events are expected to help regional industries accelerate global market entries, and will help SMEs and startups’ exploring of export markets.

Q: Will you explain the 8th-term popular elected city government’s major policies, outcomes and vision?

A: Gyeongju City, the 8th-term popular elected city government, has implemented a variety of policies under a vision “Elegant Global Culture City and Vigorous Economic City.”

In the culture and tourism sectors, the city government has raised the value of historical and cultural assets by allowing free access to the Daereungwon Ancient Tomb Complex and improving tourism conditions of Hwangnidan Street.

In the economic sector, Gyeongju City has expanded job creation and an investment foundation by building industrial complexes, attracting companies and nurturing future cars, renewal energy and advanced parts industries.

In the welfare and safety sectors, the city government has expanded care services for children and the elderly.

They also ramped up anti-disaster regimes and reinforced life safety networks by introducing smart anti-crime systems.

Moving forward, Gyeongju City is expected to raise its standing as an international conference city by successfully hosting APEC 2025 Korea and complement a sustainable growth model harmonizing culture and industry.