Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Security ramped up to highest level in Gyeongju ahead of APEC summit
Police officers conduct an anti-terrorism drill at Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center in North Gyeongsang Province ahead of APEC summit, Oct. 20. Yonhap
By Jung Da-hyun
Police launch nationwide probe into homemade gun threats ahead of international meeting
Security in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, has been raised to the highest level as world leaders and top business figures converge on the city for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
Key areas such as Gyeongju Station and the Bomun Tourist Complex, where the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will be held and hotels accommodating world leaders are located, will be subject to enhanced security and defense operations.
Police plan to enforce strict security protocols around the Bomun complex, deploying up to 18,500 officers daily, with support from police special operations armored vehicles and helicopters.
A three-tier security system will be in place to protect major figures, with personnel and equipment positioned across inner, middle and outer perimeters surrounding each individual.
At Gyeongju Station, one of the city’s busiest public facilities, police are preparing precautionary measures, as multiple civic groups have announced plans to hold rallies there.
In addition, 1,800 military personnel will be dispatched for ground security and patrol operations around the Bomun complex throughout the APEC week.
The fire department will deploy 1,352 personnel and 203 pieces of firefighting and rescue equipment, operating a comprehensive command center at Gyeongju Fire Station to ensure rapid emergency response.
Personnel and equipment will be deployed at six strategic locations in and around the Bomun complex to speed response times, as well as near Pohang's Yeongil Bay Port. A helipad within the Bomun complex has also been secured for fire department helicopters.
The security level at airports being used for the event — including Gimhae International Airport, Daegu International Airport, Pohang Gyeongju Airport and Ulsan Airport — will be heightened starting Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Airports Corporation on Sunday.
On Friday, the nationwide airport security alert level was raised from “concern” to “caution.”
A police officer patrols the Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday, where barricades have been set up along the road. Yonhap
With security measures stepped up, police launched a nationwide investigation after receiving reports of potential threats using homemade guns ahead of the summit.
The National Office of Investigation (NOI) under the National Police Agency said it launched a probe after receiving a request from the Korea Customs Service, which reported that homemade gun components had been detected during recent customs inspections.
NOI collected suspected cases and assigned them to provincial police agencies across the country, and is now supervising the ongoing investigation. Local police agencies have placed some suspects under investigation.
Authorities have said that there is currently no evidence of homemade firearms being produced and have not released any intelligence identifying specific threats against any key figures.
Police are also on high alert for potential terrorist activity during the APEC summit, particularly with world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, set to visit Korea during the events.
Authorities have banned the release of 84,927 privately owned firearms currently stored at police stations nationwide. The restriction will be lifted at 5 a.m. on Nov. 3.
Police have also conducted a nationwide inspection of 1,709 gun and explosive dealers to check live ammunition inventories and to review firearm rental and return records. They are also conducting a crackdown on illegal weapons and on online distribution of gun and explosive manufacturing methods.
The use and transport of explosives will also be prohibited within a 2-kilometer radius of the event venue from Friday until Nov. 3.