Mayor Joo Nakyoung of Gyeongju Presents 'Next 10 Years' Urban Strategy Beyond Post-APEC

Mayor Joo Outlines City Administration Direction at Media Meeting
Sharing Mid- to Long-Term Strategies and Key Tasks for Overall City Governance

Joo Nakyoung, Mayor of Gyeongju, held the "2026 New Year's Media Meeting" on the 13th at Alcheon Hall inside City Hall, where he explained the main administrative direction and key issues for this year.

This year's New Year's Media Meeting was organized as an opportunity to share the city's plans for the new year, and included explanations of the policy direction Gyeongju is pursuing after the APEC Summit, as well as future tasks.

Joo Nakyoung, Mayor of Gyeongju, is explaining the city's administrative direction for this year at the "2026 New Year's Media Meeting" held on the 13th at Alcheon Hall, Gyeongju City Hall. Photo by Gyeongju City

At this event, the city also introduced its mid- to long-term operational strategies across various areas, including industry, tourism, and population.

In his opening remarks, Mayor Joo stated, "The 2025 APEC Summit served as an opportunity to showcase Gyeongju's capabilities in hosting international events," adding, "Moving forward, we will ensure that the achievements are not limited to a one-time event, but are systematically incorporated into the city's overall administration and governance."

Gyeongju City plans to leverage the experience gained from hosting international events like APEC, integrating it across its industrial, tourism, and urban policies.

The city intends to focus on mid- to long-term tasks such as expanding international exchanges, enhancing tourism content, and improving urban infrastructure.

In the industrial sector, following the selection of a candidate site for the SMR National Industrial Complex, the city outlined the direction of its industrial policies and its overall approach to the energy sector.

Gyeongju City explained that, as this issue requires consideration of national policy, safety, and institutional requirements, it is approaching it in connection with the local industry from a mid- to long-term perspective.

In the tourism sector, the city noted the recent trend of increasing visitor numbers over the past few years, and identified expanding stay-type tourism, alleviating urban congestion, and creating an urban environment where tourism and daily life coexist in harmony as key tasks.

Regarding population issues, the city emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach that considers living conditions, jobs, and the residential environment, rather than focusing only on short-term changes.

Mayor Joo Nakyoung stressed, "In 2026, rather than introducing new slogans, we will focus on reviewing and organizing the policies and projects we have been pursuing so far," adding, "We will ensure the stable operation of the city's administration as a whole."