Joo Nak-young, Mayor of Gyeongju, Hustles to Attract the '2025 APEC Summit'

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] Mayor Ju Nak-young of Gyeongju is showing an active campaign to attract the ‘2025 32nd APEC Summit,’ the host city of which will be decided this November.

On the 30th, Gyeongju City announced, “Following the launch of the ‘2025 APEC Summit Gyeongju City Attraction Support Committee,’ composed of influential local figures, on the 27th in Seoul, Mayor Ju visited Lee Kwan-seop, Chief of National Planning at the Presidential Secretariat, explained the necessity of attracting the summit to Gyeongju, and requested cooperation to ensure Gyeongju’s selection.”

Mayor Ju emphasized that the APEC Summit is a historic international conference attended by leaders, ministers, and journalists from 21 countries including the world’s four advanced powers?the U.S., Japan, Russia, and China?showcasing Korea’s historical culture and economic development, and fostering economic cooperation and shared prosperity among member countries, rather than merely demonstrating city development.

Joo Nak-young, Mayor of Gyeongju City (left in the photo), met with Lee Gwan-seop, Chief of National Planning at the Presidential Secretariat, to explain the necessity of hosting the APEC Summit in Gyeongju and then handed over the documents.

Mayor Ju explained that Gyeongju has successfully hosted 16 international events over 18 years, including the 2005 APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting and Mining Ministers’ Meeting. As the mecca of Korea’s historical culture, possessing four World Cultural Heritage sites such as Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, and 276 cultural assets, Gyeongju is the optimal city to realize the government’s national policy goal of a ‘local era where anywhere in Korea is a good place to live’ and the inclusive growth value (hosting by small cities) of the ‘APEC Vision 2040.’

He also announced plans to complete restoration and maintenance projects of core Silla royal capital relics from over 1,400 years ago by 2025, investing 1.015 trillion KRW. Infrastructure projects for the successful hosting of the summit were also explained, including a 27.6 billion KRW facility reinforcement of the main venue, the Hwa-baek Convention Center, by 2024, and a remodeling project of 540,000 pyeong around the Bomun Complex, designated as an international conference complex district by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism last December.

In particular, regarding security and safety, the most important aspects of the summit, Mayor Ju reiterated that the Bomun Complex, the main event space, is shaped like a jar, with all accommodations and conference halls located within a 1.5 km radius. The area has few high-rise buildings, convenient movement between venues, and abundant lodging facilities including 354 locations with 11,405 rooms, among which 10 locations with 164 rooms can be used as official accommodations for the summit, making it a city with perfect safety, security, and lodging.

He also persuaded that Gyeongju is the optimal city to easily share Korea’s development within an hour, centered on Gyeongju’s advanced science industries such as Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, nuclear power plants, Munmu the Great Science Research Institute, SMR national industrial complex, proton accelerator center, and research institute for dismantling heavy water reactors, along with Pohang’s steel industry, Gumi’s electronic semiconductors, and Ulsan’s automobile manufacturing.

He explained that the main venue, the 9,560-pyeong Hwa-baek Convention Center, the KTX Singyeongju Station, and convenient transportation networks including Ulsan, Gimhae, Daegu, Pohang, and Gyeongju airports, as well as the autumn foliage that will unfold at Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto during the event period, will further introduce participants to Gyeongju within Korea.

Mayor Ju Nak-young of Gyeongju said, “In the era of decentralization, to respond to the government’s policy of national balanced development and to accelerate the 10-year development of Gyeongju, which is expected to generate nearly 1 trillion KRW in economic inducement and create about 8,000 jobs, we ask for active cooperation and interest to ensure the successful attraction of the summit.”

Competition to attract the ‘2025 32nd APEC Summit’ is underway in Gyeongju as well as Jeju Island, Incheon, and Busan.