APEC summit transforms Gyeongju into global diplomacy hub

Pohang Gyeongju Airport / Courtesy of North Gyeongsang Provincial Government

Gyeongju, the historic capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, is rapidly becoming a focal point of global diplomacy as host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which began Monday.

The weeklong event will temporarily shift the world’s attention to this ancient Korean city in North Gyeongsang Province, using its deep historical backdrop for critical discussions on the future of Asia-Pacific trade and security.

Officials are operating under a mandate to ensure flawless execution for the high-stakes gathering. As a visible measure of this commitment, Pohang Gyeongju Airport, a regional gateway, has been temporarily repurposed as the exclusive hub for visiting corporate leaders.

The city itself is being carefully managed and promoted as a unique convergence point, where the demands of 21st-century technology are set against the backdrop of millennia-old Korean culture, providing a distinctive setting for the world’s economic leaders.

Delegates participating in the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting, scheduled Monday and Tuesday at Sono Calm and Commodore Hotel, began arriving Saturday through Gimhae International Airport. Foreign and trade ministers from APEC’s 21 member economies are also traveling to Korea to attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Wednesday and Thursday.

Some 1,700 global business figures are expected at the APEC CEO Summit on Wednesday, hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. To accommodate their arrival, 24 business jets were scheduled to land at Pohang Gyeongju Airport beginning Monday morning.

Top executives set to attend include Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi, AWS CEO Matt Garman and Citi CEO Jane Fraser. From Korea, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun will join the sessions. Samsung is operating charter flights to support the transport of key guests.

Although the airport has limited international experience, immigration facilities have been expanded to enable swift VIP processing. A renovated VIP room — seating up to 16 — has also been unveiled.

World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are expected to arrive through Gimhae International Airport between Wednesday and Friday for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which runs Friday and Saturday at the Hwabaek International Convention Center.