[Gyeongju APEC] Gyeongju Now: Security Tight, Atmosphere Lively

Tight Security Checks at Bomun Complex... Entry Allowed After Showing Media Badge
Foreign Press Shows Great Interest in K-Food, Including K-Pop Demon Hunters Bread and Rice Cakes
Taxi Drivers in Uniforms... Spotlight on K-Beauty Products

"Where are you headed?" "To the media center."

At the entrance of Bomun Complex, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk on the 31st, police are conducting inspections on incoming vehicles. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

On October 31, the opening day of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, police officers at the entrance of the Bomun Tourist Complex checked the identification of every vehicle, lowering the windows and granting entry only after verification. The taxi carrying this reporter was also allowed to enter only after showing a media badge to the police and receiving the go-ahead.

Road controls were also tightened throughout the area. From this day until 2 p.m. on November 1, the passage of regular vehicles is restricted on certain road sections from Gyeongju Tollgate to Gyeongju HICO Convention Center. Due to these road controls, the reporter, who usually takes about 12 minutes to make the trip, arrived after 30 minutes. From 9 a.m., just before the summit officially began, until the meeting started at 10:30 a.m., access to the entire Bomun Complex area was completely restricted.

On the 31st, at the snack corner of the APEC International Media Center in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, foreign reporters gathered in front of the products collaborated by Paris Baguette and K-Pop Demon Hunters. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

The International Media Center, where domestic and foreign media gather, was bustling from early in the morning. Around 7:30 a.m., a woman with long blonde hair was seen holding a broadcast microphone and filming a report against the backdrop of Gyeongju. Foreign press members gathered at the Paris Baguette snack corner behind the press seats, where bread products collaborated with the Netflix animation K-Pop Demon Hunters were displayed. One foreign journalist captured a video on a mobile phone of a colleague enjoying rice cakes provided as snacks.

Outside the Bomun Complex, the streets of Gyeongju were also fully prepared. Gyeongju taxi drivers were dressed in crisp white shirts and blue knit vests. Baek, a 62-year-old taxi driver, said with a bashful smile, "I didn't buy it myself; it was distributed for us to wear during the APEC period." On the collar of the shirt and the left chest of the knit vest, there is a patch reading "APEC 2025 KOREA." Another taxi driver shared, "The city hall gathered bus and taxi drivers to provide hospitality training." Small flags promoting Gyeongju APEC were attached to the hoods of Gyeongju taxis.

Uniforms worn by taxi drivers in Gyeongju. The logo symbolizing APEC 2025 is printed on the knit vests and shirts. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

During APEC, media art installations at Cheomseongdae, Daereungwon, and other sites reinforced Gyeongju's image as a "city of a thousand years." Even at the late hour of 9:10 p.m. the previous day, groups of foreign visitors accompanied by guides were heading toward Daereungwon. The media art around Daereungwon will continue until November 16.

'K-beauty' products also drew attention during APEC. In particular, Caroline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, posted photos of 13 domestic brand products on her Instagram with the caption "South Korea skincare finds." Diana Carney, wife of the Canadian Prime Minister, who met with President Lee Jaemyung's wife Kim Hye-kyung the previous day, also commented, "My daughter wants K-beauty products, so I received a shopping list for Olive Young."

On the afternoon of the 30th, in front of Cheomseongdae in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk Province, a visitor is taking a photo of the Cheomseongdae media art. Photo by Reader Provided.

Meanwhile, anti-American and anti-Chinese protests also took place. The "International People's Action Against APEC," which included the Justice Party and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, held a rally when U.S. President Donald Trump visited Korea, chanting "No Kings" in protest. In downtown Gyeongju, there were protests shouting "Yoon Again," and on October 29, spokesperson Leavitt was spotted by a YouTuber observing the scene near Hwangridan-gil. On the day before Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival, both a welcoming rally by Chinese community groups and a protest by conservative groups were held simultaneously near Gimhae Airport.

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