Expiring Sandwiches and Shared Beds: APEC Police and Firefighters Face Poor Treatment Controversy

Although the meal budget is 10,000 won...
Only a few pieces of braised fish and some seaweed flakes
Poor accommodation conditions
Multiple officers sharing motel beds

Ahead of the 2025 Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, on the 28th, the police issued a 'Gapho Emergency' in North Gyeongsang Province. Rapid patrol vehicles gathered at the police field command center set up in a parking lot in Bomun-dong, Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

While the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju is proceeding smoothly and South Korea is achieving meaningful diplomatic results, there is growing controversy over the inadequate treatment of the police officers and firefighters responsible for security at the event.

According to TV Chosun on October 31, the quality of lunch boxes provided to police officers during the APEC Summit has been significantly lacking, and some officers were given sandwiches that were close to their expiration date. In some cases, even basic accommodations were not provided for firefighters.

During the APEC Summit, up to 19,000 police officers have been deployed each day to control the entire city of Gyeongju. Fire authorities have also maintained a 24-hour emergency system to prevent fires and safety accidents.

However, these officers have faced poor treatment. Not only have they been denied even minimal meal breaks, but the quality of the food provided has also become a serious issue.

Police officers supporting APEC have mainly been given lunch boxes as they work rotating shifts outdoors all day. Officer A said, "When the lunch box arrives, I eat it in the car. I come out an hour before my shift to prepare, and after it ends, I wait briefly in the car."

The cost per lunch box was set at 10,000 won, but it has been reported that many meals consisted of little more than a few pieces of braised fish with seaweed flakes. Some officers were even given sandwiches with only a short time left before expiration, causing widespread frustration among the police.

The accommodation issue is also serious. Officers have had to share old, motel-like rooms with pink beds, sometimes sleeping on the floor due to a lack of space. For firefighters, the situation was even worse, with no accommodations provided at all, forcing them to take turns waiting in fire trucks for 24 hours straight.

Fire authorities explained that the problem arose due to a shortage of available lodging. A fire department official said, "We did receive a list of places we could book in advance, but many of them were closed or too small, so we couldn't make reservations."

The APEC Preparatory Planning Team, which cannot avoid responsibility, explained, "There are not many accommodations in Gyeongju, so we expanded our search to cities like Ulsan and Pohang." They added, "All accommodation and meal expenses are being covered."