Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
REPORTERSNOTEBOOK Gyeongju APEC: well-prepared summit with little to cover
Local and foreign reporters work at the International Media Center for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperaton (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Lee Hyo-jin
Excessive security, vague coverage guidelines kept reporters at distance
GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Gyeongju, the ancient city in North Gyeongsang Province, spent more than a year preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting.
This reporter arrived Oct. 26, a day before the week-long gathering began, and excitement was in the air. APEC banners were everywhere, and a taxi driver pointed out newly paved roads and renovated hotels, all ready to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
On the ground, however, the experience was less glamorous. For many reporters, covering APEC was a test of patience.
With hotels near the Bomun Tourist Complex, the summit venue, booked for delegations, journalists had to stay kilometers away in the city center and rely on shuttle buses that often ran late or were stuck in traffic because of heightened security.
Once inside the Bomun complex, the real challenge began.
Media access to the main venue, the Hwabaek International Convention Center, was completely restricted, leaving reporters confined to the nearby newly built International Media Center.
Though designed to accommodate more than 3,000 journalists — a figure this reporter confirmed with organizers — it offered fewer than 500 usable seats. Just a couple of days into the summit, reporters were pressed shoulder to shoulder, competing for chairs and power outlets. Every morning, journalists arrived early to stake out spots, turning the press room into a quiet battlefield.
The lack of access to summit events was perhaps the most frustrating part. Meetings were held behind closed doors, which is typical for summits, but the absence of clear guidance on coverage left many scratching their heads.
Things were slightly easier for Korean reporters who had local contacts, but foreign journalists struggled. Correspondents who flew to Korea ended up watching delegations on large screens in the media room, much like viewers around the world. A few days into the summit, a foreign reporter said he "felt useless," as he was unable to deliver meaningful stories.
Staff at the media center did their best, but lacked the authority or information to provide meaningful updates on APEC developments.
With little else to do, journalists lingered around the refreshment tables, sipping coffee and nibbling on Gyeongju's famous Hwangnam bread throughout the day.
Some assumed the limited access was a consequence of APEC's global profile, but a correspondent who also covered the 2023 summit in San Francisco noted the difference. "Media access there was much broader," she said, adding that it was disappointing to have no interaction at all with the delegations in Gyeongju.
Let me be clear: This reporter is not saying that hosting APEC in Gyeongju was the wrong choice.
Logistical challenges and limited accommodation are part of covering any major event, but the real frustration came from the lack of access to information at what was touted as a high-profile summit.
Maintaining security at international gatherings is essential. But when caution turns into excessive control, it does little to elevate Korea's image as a confident host of global events.
Journalists didn't travel to Gyeongju only to sample its famous snacks and admire the city's cultural heritage. They came to witness diplomacy in motion — the conversations and moments that ultimately produced the "Gyeongju Declaration," or the summit documents.