Achievements Made Possible by Citizens’ Mature Cooperation
Preparing for the POST APEC Era
The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, held in Gyeongju-a city with a thousand-year history-successfully concluded under the global spotlight.
This summit not only elevated South Korea’s diplomatic stature but also marked a turning point for Gyeongju, establishing it as a central city in international diplomacy.
The Gyeongju City Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea (Chairman Han Youngtae) stated in a commentary on the 4th, “This APEC Summit was a symbolic occasion that demonstrated South Korea’s status as a trusted diplomatic platform in the international community,” adding, “The cultural strength of Gyeongju and the cooperation of its citizens have redefined the city’s standing on the world stage.”
The committee particularly evaluated that the global agendas discussed at this summit-such as bridging the artificial intelligence technology gap, addressing technological inequality, and cooperating on the climate crisis-have provided an opportunity for South Korea to move toward becoming an ‘inclusive innovation nation.’
They further noted that public diplomacy programs based on Gyeongju’s cultural heritage received praise from world leaders and foreign media, thereby strengthening the image of South Korea as a cultural powerhouse.
Chairman Han Youngtae emphasized, “The success of APEC was thanks to the dedication and cooperation of Gyeongju’s citizens,” and added, “Despite various challenges such as traffic control and accommodation inconveniences, citizens demonstrated the dignity of Gyeongju to the world.”
He continued, “Now is the time to prepare for ‘POST APEC,’ that is, Gyeongju after APEC,” and stated, “We will continue to drive sustainable development by improving urban infrastructure such as accommodation and transportation and by establishing a city vision based on citizen participation.”
The committee expressed its intention to further strengthen Gyeongju’s urban identity, where culture, tourism, and diplomacy are harmonized, and to design policies focused on changes that citizens can truly feel, aiming for Gyeongju’s leap onto the global stage.
Chairman Han stated, “The Gyeongju APEC is an achievement for everyone, and now we must make this success the starting point for sustainable growth,” adding, “The Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongju City Committee will work together with citizens to create a new future for Gyeongju.”
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