Eighth Floor of Hilton Hotel Completely Sealed Off
U.S. Secret Service Conducts Security Operations
All Traces Removed After Withdrawal
On October 31, Yonhap News reported that a temporary White House Situation Room had been set up at the Hilton Hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, where President Donald Trump of the United States stayed during his visit. This measure appears to have been taken to enable national security briefings and meetings even while the U.S. President was overseas.
On the 29th, a sniper was positioned on the rooftop of the Hilton Hotel located within the Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News.
According to Yonhap News, citing sources at the hotel and multiple officials, the eighth floor of the Hilton Hotel, which served as President Trump's accommodation, was completely sealed off by the United States Secret Service (USSS) until late the previous night, with access restrictions lifted only on the morning of the 31st.
One of the two rooms at the end of the hallway on that floor was the "Presidential Royal Suite (PRS)," and a paper nameplate reading "WHSR (White House Situation Room)" was attached to the door. This abbreviation refers to the national security command facility within the White House, and it appears that a high-security communications facility (SCIF) used by the U.S. President during overseas visits was temporarily installed there.
After the withdrawal, only a sign reading "WHSR OFFICE" remained, and the interior of the room was completely empty of any furniture or fixtures. Several marks were left on the carpet, indicating where tripods or equipment had been placed.
A hotel official stated, "The requests from the White House were extremely detailed, and several facility inspections were conducted in advance," adding, "All luggage transport was carried out behind screens, so nothing could be seen from outside." The official declined to disclose any security-related requests, saying, "I cannot make those public."
The room where President Trump actually stayed was a special suite located opposite the PRS room where the situation room had been set up. This space is not normally available to general guests and had been used as an office for hotel management. It was reported that the U.S. side selected this room themselves during a preliminary inspection ahead of the APEC event.
Donald Trump, President of the United States, is moving to a nearby helipad in the exclusive limousine 'The Beast' at the Gyeongju Hilton Hotel on the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
The hotel explained, "The U.S. side preferred an office space over the presidential suite," adding, "All office furniture was removed and the room was converted into accommodation." Although the room was about half the size of the PRS and relatively small, it reportedly offered significant security advantages due to its controlled access.
Currently, both rooms have been fully restored, and no traces remain inside. Only a few English-language newspapers, believed to have been read by President Trump during his stay, were left behind, while all other items have been removed.
Hotel staff reported that even after the U.S. security team withdrew, they were instructed to remain silent and not disclose any details or requests related to the President's stay to outsiders.
At present, some U.S. government officials are still staying at the Hilton Hotel. Although the Secret Service has withdrawn, security by the Korean police continues.
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