Gyeongju residents welcome APEC dignitaries

Foreign visitors receive guidance from staff dressed in traditional hanbok ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events at Gyeongju Station, Sunday. Yonhap

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — A day before this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, the southeastern city buzzed with anticipation Sunday as it prepared to welcome guests from around the world.

Starting Monday, this historic city will host a series of APEC events, starting with the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting, followed by the APEC Ministerial Meeting and the CEO Summit. The Economic Leaders’ Meeting, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, will bring together leaders from all 21 member economies, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The excitement surrounding the APEC events was evident as soon as visitors arrived at Gyeongju Station. Greeters dressed in hanbok, Korea’s traditional attire, welcomed visitors with cheongsachorong — red and blue traditional lanterns — as many paused to take photos with them.

The moment felt special for Kim Hyoun-su, a first-year student at Dongguk University’s Gyeongju campus who works as a staff member for the APEC events.

Kim Hyoun-su, left, a 21-year-old university student and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation staff member, pose at Gyeongju Station, Sunday. Korea Times photo by Park Ung

“I hope more foreign visitors come to take photos with us. I’m happy to be here,” Kim told The Korea Times.

Born and raised in Seoul, Kim said it was a valuable experience to see such a major international event taking place in Gyeongju while studying there. “As world leaders visit the city (where I’m currently attending university), I feel a deep sense of pride,” he added.

Banners promoting APEC lined the road from Gyeongju Station to the city center, where taxi drivers were also helping to make the event a success.

Among them was Kim Sung-kyung, a 65-year-old taxi driver and lifelong Gyeongju resident. For him, the arrival of world leaders and foreign dignitaries in his hometown signaled one thing: a trip to the barber.

“I’m not a handsome man, but looking neat helps when you’re greeting people from all over the world,” Kim said with a laugh. “Because of APEC events, more tourists are coming. You can really see more foreigners on the streets.”

And Kim is well prepared. He pointed to a leaflet inside his taxi featuring a QR code that allows real-time interpretation between local drivers and foreign passengers.

A leaflet displayed by taxi driver Kim Sung-kyung features a QR code offering an interpretation service between Gyeongju taxi drivers and foreign customers, Sunday. Korea Times photo by Park Ung

Kim said foreign passengers can scan the QR code to facilitate communication with him.

“The city has done a lot to prepare for this event,” Kim said. “Its historic sites are well known to Koreans but still new to many foreigners. I hope the APEC summit helps our culture reach a wider audience.”

That sense of anticipation could be felt across the city, including Hwangnidan Street, one of the city’s most popular tourist spots.

Hwang Won-sik, 54, who runs a hanbok rental shop on the street, said the share of foreign customers has recently risen from about 20 to 30 percent. When asked whether locals hoped the APEC meetings would boost Gyeongju’s profile and draw more visitors, he responded without hesitation.

“I think everyone here hopes for the same thing,” he said. “It still doesn’t feel real that the summit is happening here, but I have high hopes.”