Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light, though wise men at their end know dark is right, because their words had forked no lightning they, do not go gentle into that good night.
APEC summit sparks tourism surge in ancient Korean capital
Foreign tourists pose for a photo at Gyeongju Station in North Gyeongsang Province, Oct. 26, 2025, ahead of the city's hosting of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Summit. Yonhap
By Jhoo Dong-chan
Gyeongju, the historic capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.) known for its valley of grass-covered royal tombs and Buddhist temples, is rapidly transforming into Korea’s newest international tourism powerhouse following its role as host of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
According to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, foreign tourist arrivals in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, surged 18.3 percent to nearly 569,000 between January and May compared to the same period last year. More strikingly, foreign tourist spending skyrocketed by 34.1 percent to 11.1 billion won ($8 million), underscoring a lucrative shift toward high-value experiential travel.
Officials are moving swiftly to capitalize on the momentum of last year's summit, launching an aggressive strategy to cement Gyeongju as a premier destination capable of drawing crowds away from the heavily saturated capital of Seoul.
"The successful hosting of the 2025 APEC summit was a decisive moment that showcased Gyeongju's deep historical and cultural charm to the world," said Kang Jeong-won, director-general of the ministry’s Tourism Policy Bureau.
The government’s new playbook marks a shift toward highly targeted, niche tourism.
To attract younger travelers, the Korea Tourism Organization recently paired Gyeongju’s famous cherry blossom marathon with tailored "run-trip" vacation packages. Leveraging nearby regional international airports in Daegu and Gimhae, officials are also rolling out customized itineraries for travelers from Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong.
Later this year, the focus will turn toward high-end luxury markets. In September, Korea will host a familiarization tour for members of Serandipians, a global network of luxury travel agencies, to develop premium travel packages.
Local business owners say the influx of global visitors is already reshaping the city's economy.
Nam Mi-gyeong, head of Gyeongju's Culture and Tourism Bureau, noted that downtown commercial districts are seeing an unprecedented rise in foreign visitors.
"We plan to foster high-value overnight tourism content and elevate our infrastructure to a world-class level," she said.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.