State-of-the-art facilities await world leaders for APEC 2025

Aerial view of the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Aug. 21 / Yonhap

The ancient city of Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province is entering the final phase of preparations to host the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

The summit will gather top leaders and senior officials from 21 member economies, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who are set to meet for the first time in more than six years.

At the heart of the event stands the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO), the official summit venue. The building has undergone a complete transformation to host the two-day event, emerging as a state-of-the-art conference facility equipped with advanced LED screens, immersive sound systems and a full-scale renovation of the full interior.

Once a regional convention center, HICO has been redesigned to accommodate top-level diplomacy. Its VIP lounges, bilateral meeting rooms and simultaneous interpretation facilities have been fully refurbished. Every elevator and escalator was replaced for accessibility and safety.

"We are on our final steps," said Park Jang-ho, an official with the APEC Preparation Committee. "All that remains is to lay out the red carpet for our visiting leaders."

Outside, a newly built international media center costing 17.2 billion won ($12 million) stands as a two-story, 6,000-square-meter facility. Designed to accommodate more than 1,000 journalists, it will serve as a hub for global reporting and live broadcasting throughout the summit.

Just 1.8 kilometers away, the Lahan Select Gyeongju will serve as the venue for the official leaders’ banquet. Situated along the serene Bomun Lake, the five-star hotel is steeped in diplomatic history, having hosted the 2005 South Korea-U.S. summit and a welcoming dinner during Xi’s visit in 2014.

The grand ballroom, located on the first basement level, spans 1,500 square meters and is capable of seating up to 2,000 guests. The interiors feature white walls, high ceilings and gray-blue carpets designed to evoke calm and harmony.

Originally, a newly built hanok-style hall within the Gyeongju National Museum was considered for the banquet, but organizers moved the venue to the hotel to accommodate more attendees. The hanok (a traditional Korean house) will host networking events for visiting CEOs and cultural exchanges during the two-day event.

Surrounding the main conference venue, the Bomun Tourist Complex — developed in the 1970s as Korea’s first planned tourism zone — has been revitalized with its hotels, parks and cultural spaces, serving as the center of the APEC gathering.

Seen is the Hilton Gyeongju in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Oct. 17, which is expected to host U.S. delegation during the APEC event. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok

Over recent months, 12 major hotels and resorts in the lakeside area have completed renovation projects valued at tens to hundreds of billions of won.

The Hilton Gyeongju, next to HICO, is expected to host Trump and the U.S. delegation, while Xi and his entourage will reportedly stay at the Kolon Hotel, about 7.5 kilometers away. All executive suites have been upgraded with reinforced security measures including bulletproof glass and surveillance counter measures ahead of the summit.

While diplomacy takes center stage, the nearby Expo Grand Park now features the new APEC Economic Exhibition Hall — a 2,700-square-meter facility costing 14.2 billion won — where pavilions showcase Korea’s industrial evolution, spanning from the early manufacturing era to the age of artificial intelligence (AI) and green technology.

An aerial view of the Gyeongju Expo Grand Park in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province / Korea Times file

Samsung Electronics plans to unveil its foldable tri-fold smartphone here, presenting Korea’s innovative prowess before global leaders. Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, AWS CEO Matt Garman and Johnson & Johnson head Joaquin Duato will join Korean business leaders during the summit.

Inside the Bomun complex, smart tourism infrastructure — including AI guide kiosks, augmented reality and virtual reality zones, and energy-efficient lighting — is being expanded for long-term use beyond the summit. Officials say these upgrades will help shape Gyeongju’s future as a global MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) destination.

In coordination with 24 regional hospitals, the organizing committee finalized a network of specialized emergency teams. During the summit, three field clinics will operate within the Bomun complex, staffed by 511 medical volunteers and on-call professionals.