I cover a wide range of stories about Korean society — one of the most dynamic places in the world. To me, journalism means being on the ground, uncovering untold stories and amplifying marginalized voices, especially in an era when AI is reshaping the media landscape. That’s why I’m always here to listen. Tips and stories are welcome — feel free to reach out via email. Before becoming a journalist, I traveled through 24 countries over 702 days, served two years as a military police officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force and later studied filmmaking at the Korea National University of Arts.
INTERVIEW Gyeongju reimagines itself as permanent fixture of global diplomacy
Hahm Sung-deuk, co-chairman of the advisory committee of the World Gyeongju Forum, speaks during an interview at Kyonggi University’s campus in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Park Ung
After 2025 APEC summit, Gyeongju seeks to parlay its history into cultural, creative industries
When the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum convened last year in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom was cast as more than just a scenic backdrop. Against a landscape of burial mounds and Buddhist temples, the gathering offered a glimpse into a new regional relevance.
Under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow,” member economies committed to tighter coordination on the modern anxieties of the Pacific Rim: the rapid ascent of artificial intelligence and the looming economic pressures of aging populations.
Local leaders and the central government are now trying to translate that moment of attention into a sustained role on the global stage. Hahm Sung-deuk, co-chairman of the World Gyeongju Forum’s (WGF) advisory committee, said the city’s dual identity — as a “museum without walls” and an increasingly active diplomatic hub — gives it a rare advantage in seeking a broader international presence.
“Gyeongju’s historical and cultural assets are too rich for APEC events (or similar large-scale international gatherings) to be a one-off,” Hahm said during an interview with The Korea Times on Thursday.
The forum, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and hosted by the provincial and city governments, aims to sustain the diplomatic and cultural momentum from APEC events.
“The aim is clear: to build the WGF into the Davos of the cultural sector," said Hahm, dean and Naun professor of political science and law at Kyonggi University Graduate School of Political Studies and North Gyeongsang Province’s diplomatic policy adviser for last year’s APEC summit. The Swiss town of Davos hosts the World Economic Forum, a high-profile gathering of global business leaders and senior politicians.
According to the professor, Gyeongju has the potential to achieve that goal. The city was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) and is home to four UNESCO World Heritage sites and 36 state-designated national treasures, accounting for about 10 percent of the national total.
Drawing on that legacy, Hahm said that cultural and creative industries will sit at the core of the WGF.
These industries are widely seen as a key engine of global growth and sustainability, transforming culture, art and heritage into marketable outputs that drive employment and value creation.
To host a successful forum centered on the cultural and creative industries, Hahm said, a city needs a compelling story — and Gyeongju has one.
“Gyeongju was Korea’s first truly global city,” he said, citing Roman glass unearthed there that is believed to have circulated in Silla-era Gyeongju during the fourth and fifth centuries.
North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo and Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young helped spur WGF’s launch, and the professor is helping broaden the forum’s domestic and international reach.
Leaders and delegates of 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies pose after the summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 1, 2025. Korea Times file
The forum is expected to hold its inaugural meeting later this year. It will focus on cultural industry policy and cooperation with APEC member economies, in line with the bloc’s priorities of sustainable growth, digital innovation and an inclusive economy.
Building on last year’s founding preparations, the forum this year plans to strengthen cultural cooperation and networks to promote Korean culture with APEC member economies.
Between 2027 and 2029, WGF plans to expand its scope by pairing its programs with conferences involving major companies and investors.
Looking ahead to 2029-30, organizers aim to elevate the event into a summit on culture and the economy, bringing together heads of state, international organizations and business leaders from around the world.
Hahm said WGF’s success could help promote balanced regional development. In that regard, he stressed that more interest from Korea’s president would be crucial.
“Last year’s APEC events succeeded thanks to careful preparation by President Lee Jae Myung and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, becoming one of Lee’s key achievements,” Hahm said, adding that conditions were challenging after former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in December 2024.
“If Lee takes an interest in the WGF and we work together, this too will stand as a major achievement of his administration,” Hahm added.