Gyeongju in last-minute sprint as APEC meeting nears

The entrance to the Hwabaek International Convention Center, the main venue for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, is seen in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Lee Hyo-jin

By Lee Hyo-jin

• Published Sep 25, 2025 12:14 PM KST
• Updated Sep 25, 2025 1:38 PM KST

Hwabaek International Convention Center wraps up renovations to host leaders of 21 member economies

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — With about one month to go before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, officials in Gyeongju are racing to finish preparations as the ancient city is set to host the high-stakes international summit for the first time.

The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, with a week of related events beginning Oct. 27, including the APEC ministerial meeting and cultural programs for leaders' spouses.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in Bomun Tourist Complex — the summit's main venue — was bustling with construction crews.

Outside, signs reading "2025 APEC Korea" had been put up as crews completed work on the sidewalk at the street out front and continued to work on the building's exterior walls. Inside the lobby, which will be open to working-level government officials, massive display screens were being installed, while tables, chairs, carpets and partition walls had yet to be set up.

"We have significantly upgraded the building to meet multilateral summit standards. Renovations are 95 percent complete and will be finished on schedule," an APEC organizing committee official said while showing reporters around the lobby.

"Facilities for meetings and audio equipment will be prepared closer to the event," the official added. "If they are installed too early, rental costs may rise significantly, so that's why we plan to work on the interior setup later."

Access to the second and third floors, where the leaders' sessions will take place, was restricted to the press for security reasons, and photography was prohibited throughout the facility.

Officials are making a final push to prepare for more than 20,000 anticipated participants, including leaders, ministers and journalists from 21 APEC member economies.

The meeting marks Korea’s third time hosting APEC, after previous gatherings in Seoul in 1991 and Busan in 2005.

But this year's meeting is drawing heightened attention after U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week that he had agreed to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the event.

Speculation about a possible Trump-Xi meeting amid an ongoing trade war between the world's two largest economies is fueling expectations of a record turnout of international press.

A short walk from HICO, a newly built two-story international media center was being readied to accommodate more than 1,000 domestic and foreign journalists.

Covering a total area of 6,000 square meters, it is equipped with multiple briefing and interview rooms, although much of the interior was still awaiting final setup.

"All construction will be completed by the end of September, with interiors finalized days before APEC," another organizing committee official said, dismissing concerns that the work is behind schedule. "The proximity between the convention center and press hub will maximize support for the media during the event."

This will be the first time for Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.–A.D. 935), to host a major multinational gathering.

The city's rich cultural heritage was a decisive factor in its selection over competitors, including Incheon and Jeju, and local officials hope to showcase that legacy through a range of cultural programs.

As part of the cultural agenda, the Wooyang Art Museum in the Bomun complex has arranged an exhibition of works by Korean video art pioneer Nam June Paik. The museum reopened in July after more than a year of renovations.

"We hope to use art to highlight where Korean contemporary culture stands today and to explore how it can shape the future, aligning with APEC's theme of building a sustainable future," a museum official said.

The museum will likely be closed to the public during the week of APEC, the official noted, as it may be used to host events such as a gala dinner for senior officials and programs for leaders’ spouses.

The Gyeongju National Museum, located about five kilometers away from the Bomun complex, is also preparing for the occasion.

A newly built traditional hanok-style banquet hall is expected to host the APEC CEO Summit.

Organizers had initially planned to use the hall for the leaders’ gala dinner but later moved the event to the grand ballroom of the five-star Lahan Select Gyeongju hotel, citing the need to accommodate more guests.

Still, Yoo Hong-joon, director of the National Museum of Korea, who spoke to reporters about Gyeongju's historical significance, expressed hopes that APEC guests will take in more than just the meetings and visit the Gyeongju National Museum.

"My hope is that visitors will come to the museum, appreciate its exhibits and listen to the sound of the Sacred Bell of King Seongdeok," he said.

The bell, designated National Treasure No. 29 in 1962, is Korea’s largest surviving bell. Widely known as the "Emille Bell," it was struck for a public sound test on Wednesday evening, the first such demonstration in 22 years.

Gyeongju officials said the rare event was organized ahead of APEC to showcase the city's cultural heritage and build anticipation for the international event.