Choi Sangmok Acting President: "Relevant Agencies Must Thoroughly Prepare for the Summit"... Checks APEC Preparations During Gyeongju Visit

On the 20th, the city of Gyeongju announced that Choi Sangmok, Acting President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Economy and Finance, visited Gyeongju to inspect preparations for the APEC Summit and discuss strategies to revitalize local tourism.

On this day, Acting President Choi received a briefing on the status of APEC Summit preparations at the HICO (Hwabaek Convention Center) in Gyeongju and personally checked key areas such as transportation, accommodation, security, and medical systems.

Joo Nakyoung, mayor of Gyeongju City (right), is explaining the preparation status for the APEC summit while touring the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO) to Choi Sangmok, acting prime minister and minister of strategy and finance.

At the meeting, Acting President Choi stated, "The successful conclusion of the first Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM1) has provided an opportunity to showcase Korea's leadership to the international community," and requested, "For the successful hosting of the summit, I urge the city of Gyeongju and related organizations to cooperate and ensure thorough preparations."

Later, moving to Gyochon Hanok Village, Acting President Choi, guided by Mayor Joo Nakyoung of Gyeongju, toured the facilities and inspected traditional cultural experience programs such as traditional tea ceremonies, Hanbok experiences, rice cake making, and traditional liquor tasting.

At this site, Acting President Choi also carefully reviewed improvement plans for attracting foreign tourists and measures to expand experiential tourism products.

Subsequently, at the "Gyeongju Choi Bujaga Academy" within Gyochon Hanok Village, he presided over a livelihood economy review meeting and actively listened to opinions on revitalizing the local economy and tourism.

Key topics discussed included a pilot visa waiver program for Chinese group tourists, operation of familiarization tours for APEC participants, and the development of tourism products linked to advanced industries.

Mayor Joo Nakyoung of Gyeongju stated, "Taking the opportunity of the APEC Summit, we will grow Gyeongju into an international hub for tourism and business," and added, "Through this, we aim to promote the sustainable development of the local economy."

In response, Acting President Choi Sangmok said, "The government will spare no effort in providing support to enhance the competitiveness of the inbound tourism market and to spread tourism demand nationwide."

Meanwhile, the city of Gyeongju plans to focus its administrative capabilities on expanding the attraction of global tourists and implementing various policies to vitalize the local economy, taking the APEC Summit as an opportunity.