[Report] Gyeongju Heats Up Ahead of Trump and Xi Jinping's Visit... Final Construction Underway

The Splendid Heritage of Silla:
The Silla Golden Crown and the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok
Featured in the APEC Cultural Program

'Welcome to Gyeongju, the host city of the APEC Summit.' On the afternoon of September 24, Gyeongju Station was bustling as passengers arrived by KTX train. Gyeongju, the "millennium-old city" where history and culture are alive and breathing, is awaiting another historic moment. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit is being held in South Korea for the first time in 20 years. Across the city, APEC banners and various promotional materials are displayed, heightening the event's atmosphere. At the end of October, leaders from major countries around the world will gather in Gyeongju. In particular, with the simultaneous attendance of U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping considered a certainty, the world's attention is focused on Gyeongju.

The exterior view of Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO), the venue for the 2025 APEC Summit

Due to the tight preparation schedule, major facilities such as the summit venue and the media center are still under construction. However, both event officials and citizens are expressing confidence in the successful hosting of the summit. The drive from Gyeongju Station to Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO), where the summit will be held, takes about 30 minutes without traffic. Although the roads have been completely refurbished to look brand new, there are still several two-lane sections along the route, raising concerns about possible traffic congestion. Gyeongju City plans to implement an alternate-day driving system for vehicles during the APEC Summit as a solution.

HICO, which will be primarily used by the heads of state, was undergoing final interior remodeling. Upon entering, a large, L-shaped digital signage will greet the leaders and their delegations. On this day, workers were seen riding lifts and attaching display panels one by one. Lim Kyunghoon, Director of Planning at the APEC Preparatory Planning Group, explained, "The facility remodeling is in its final stage," adding, "The second and third floors will be used by the leaders."

Right next to HICO, the International Media Center (IMC) for domestic and international press is nearing completion. Unlike the summit venue, which utilizes an existing building, the IMC is a newly constructed two-story temporary structure. It can accommodate up to 1,000 people simultaneously and will house a briefing room, interview rooms, and an international broadcasting center. The construction progress is about 95 percent, but the interior remains empty with ongoing work. The building is two stories, but the elevator and flooring have not yet been installed. The plan is to complete the building by the end of this month and finish the interior work, including flooring, between October 10 and 20, after the Chuseok holiday.

About a 10-minute drive from HICO, a single-story wooden building is being constructed in the courtyard of the National Gyeongju Museum. Originally, 7.2 billion won was invested to use it as the venue for the leaders' banquet, but the location was changed to the grand ballroom of Lahan Select Gyeongju Hotel, leaving the new building without a purpose. It is expected that the building will be used for the APEC CEO Summit and then dismantled.

Near HICO, the Wooyang Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a special exhibition of Nam June Paik's "Humanity in the Circuit." At the National Gyeongju Museum, visitors are greeted by the Silla golden crown and the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok, also known as "Emille Bell." If top-level dignitaries visit, You Hongjun, Director of the National Museum of Korea, will personally provide a guided tour. Meeting with reporters, Director You said, "I hope the leaders will visit the museum, see the golden crown, listen to the sound of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok, and also visit Bulguksa Temple before they leave."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.