After APEC, can Gyeongju become global meeting city?

Reporters work inside the International Media Center for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Yonhap

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings closed Saturday after thousands of delegates visited Gyeongju, the focus is now turning to whether the city can establish itself as a recurring hub for global conferences.

To host APEC events, Gyeongju invested heavily in infrastructure. The Hwabaek International Convention Center, the main summit venue, received interior upgrades such as new carpets and elevators. Next to it, the city built a new two-story International Media Center spanning 6,000 square meters to accommodate the global press.

Some hotels in the city added new presidential suites to host national leaders, with renovation costs of up to 100 billion won ($69.8 million).

The Hwabaek International Convention Center, the main venue for this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting, is seen in August. Yonhap

“The city seemed well-prepared for a large international event,” said a Chinese reporter who requested anonymity due to workplace policy. “We received text alerts about road blocks, which helped us move quickly between sites. Even though the messages were in Korean, I could read them with translation apps.”

He added that he was able to stay downtown by booking early, but others were not as fortunate.

“Gyeongju is not a very big city, so hotel options were limited,” he said. “APEC is a very large event, bringing people from 21 economies — not only official delegations but many others. Some of my colleagues had to stay outside the city.”

A Japanese reporter, who also requested anonymity, echoed that assessment.

She said the city felt generally well-prepared, with tight security and a welcoming atmosphere for foreign media, but noted that accommodation and transportation were less than convenient.

“We’re staying in Pohang now (about 30 kilometers from Gyeongju),” she said. “When we tried to book rooms about two weeks ago, there were no vacancies left downtown.”

She also noted that some event venues were spread out, requiring long walks between locations, such as to pick up press passes or access the media center. “It was a bit difficult to move around,” she said. “But the staff were very kind and helpful.”

Experts said that while some challenges remain, hosting APEC events has strengthened Gyeongju’s competitiveness as a future conference city.

The APEC International Media Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, is seen, Tuesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Kim Nam-jo, a tourism professor at Hanyang University, told The Korea Times that the summit boosted Gyeongju’s global visibility and upgraded its facilities, adding to the city’s existing strengths as a historic cultural destination.

“An international conference isn’t just about the sessions,” Kim said. “Participants also look for cultural and leisure experiences after the meetings, beyond the venue. In that sense, Gyeongju stands out among Korean cities with its wealth of historical and cultural heritage.”

Yoon Young-hye, a professor of global MICE convergence at Dongduk Women’s University, agreed, saying that hosting a summit of national leaders is an unmatched and cost-efficient way to brand a city.

Yoon pointed to recent precedents, noting that Busan saw a significant boost in international conference hosting after the 2005 APEC summit, while Seoul recorded a sharp rise following the 2010 G20 summit.

Under criteria from the Union of International Associations, Seoul rose from ninth in global conference hosting in 2009 to fifth in 2010. Busan also increased its number of international conferences from six in 2004 to 93 in 2010, ranking fourth in Asia and 17th worldwide that year.

“This year’s APEC events saw significant upgrades to the Bomun Tourist Complex, modernizing Gyeongju’s MICE infrastructure,” Yoon said. “The city is known for its historical appeal, but it also has clear potential to host conferences tied to the local energy sector, including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.”

Yoon noted that while the accommodation shortage was likely unique during the APEC events, when large crowds arrived, Gyeongju still needs better transport links between the train station — located about a 30-minute drive from downtown — and the convention area.

“The city also needs to build a long-term, dedicated MICE workforce to sustain future international conferences,” she said. “Hosting major international events outside Seoul can help revitalize regional economies, especially as many local cities face population decline.”