KOREAN NET

Gyeongju Station in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, on Oct. 28 has a welcoming atmosphere for attendees of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit three days before the event.

By APEC 2025 Korea coverage team

Photos = Park Daejin

Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, is buzzing with a mix of a welcoming atmosphere and tension for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, as world leaders and business executives are in the host city of the event.

Heads of state arrived for the summit at Gimhae International Airport in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, while executives attending the APEC CEO Summit came through Pohang Gyeongju Airport in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

The main gateway for most attendees and officials, however, is Gyeongju Station, where the bullet train KTX (Korea Train Express) stops.

Arrival on Oct. 28 at the station immediately gave off an APEC vibe. The official promotional videos for the summit and Gyeongju tourism content were continuously shown on large media walls and electronic boards, while an APEC information desk there assisted visitors.

In front of Exit 1 was a booth for this year's Korea Welcome Week, offering welcoming kits to foreign visitors comprising cosmetics, a guide on Gyeongju's UNESCO World Heritage sites, information on tourism in Korea and tiger-shaped items.

Welcome banners and directional signs were everywhere outside the gate. Leading tourist attractions such as Gyeongju Hwangnidan Street were bustling with preparation to greet visitors.

Merchants mentioned the noticeable rise in the number of foreign tourists on the street ahead of APEC.

Reporters from around the world gather at the newly built International Media Center in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, to cover the APEC summit.

Bomun Tourist Complex and vicinity exemplified the traits of an APEC host city. Security personnel were deployed around the main roads and event staff inspected installations and confirmed routes.

The newly built International Media Center next to Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center was the most eye-catching sight, with strict security protocols at the entrance. Reporters had to open their bags for inspection of each belonging and piece of equipment, and entry was permitted only after verification of ID and summit credentials.

The center's first floor houses a briefing room and media support desk, while the second has rooms for broadcasting and editing. The venue thus was abuzz with journalistic activity.

Reporters from global media outlets such as Reuters of the U.K., Xinhua of China and NHK of Japan gathered in front of monitors and typed away on their keyboards, making Gyeongju a global news hub even before the summit kicked off.

margareth@korea.kr