The cruise ship (large passenger ship) that was to be used as lodging for overseas officials attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit and leaders' meeting opening on the 29th in Gyeongju will be provided to local residents and people displaced by earthquakes and wildfires.
According to the APEC CEO Summit task force and North Gyeongsang Province officials on the 28th, the Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry decided that day to use the cruise ship docked in Pohang as accommodations for local residents and people displaced by this year's earthquakes, wildfires, and other disasters.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce & Industry secured two cruise ships: the Piano Land, a Chinese-flagged vessel, and the Eastern Venus of domestic operator Doowon Cruise Ferry. It had planned to use the two ships as "lodging on the sea," judging that accommodations in Gyeongju and surrounding areas would be insufficient during the APEC events.
However, as some countries visiting Gyeongju for APEC canceled part of their hotel bookings and cruise reservations shifted in succession to those accommodations, demand for cruise lodging fell. In response, it was said that, as a social contribution, rooms would be provided to local residents and people displaced by disasters.
About 300 people are invited to the cruise: roughly 40 general local residents and about 250 residents affected by wildfires and earthquakes.