"It seems the last remaining 1% will be helped by heaven."
On the 23rd, just a week before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who is serving as head of the preparatory committee, said at a press briefing held at a cafe in downtown Gyeongju, "This APEC will raise the world's interest in Gyeongju."
The government plans to use this meeting as a turning point to elevate Gyeongju into a "tourist city on the global stage." It is said to have benchmarked Vladivostok in Russia, which established itself as a leading tourist destination thanks to APEC in 2012. After the meeting, Vladivostok was designated a free port, followed by casino development and the hosting of the Eastern Economic Forum, emerging as Russia's representative tourist city.
Busan, which hosted the APEC meeting in 2005, also saw the number of tourists more than triple from the previous year. In particular, with international interest in K-content soaring now, the government expects a significant boost to tourism.
◇ "We will build a super-gap tourist city with K-APEC"
Making a final on-site inspection before the opening of the meeting, Kim said, "We will highlight Gyeongju's cultural significance and increase investment in every field with a 'K' label," adding, "We will create a super-gap K-APEC."
Kim said, "The most practical way to monetize 'K' content is tourism," adding, "We will firmly create an opportunity to spread culture and tourism not only to Seoul but also to the regions."
Gyeongju, which the press corps visited that day, appeared ready to host the summit. Infrastructure issues that had long been pointed out as weaknesses were also largely resolved. The Gyeongju city government conducted a comprehensive survey of 1,846 lodging facilities and secured a total of 12,812 rooms. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects up to 7,700 visitors per day during the summit period and has already secured 7,700 rooms.
There are a total of 35 PRS accommodations for heads of state; about 10 of them are assigned not only for leaders but also for state-guest-level global chief executive officers (CEOs). Twelve hotels in the Bomun resort complex were fully refurbished and upgraded to a standard suitable for heads of state.
The transportation system was also overhauled. Using Gimhae Airport and KTX Gyeongju Station as transport hubs, APEC-only shuttle buses will run frequently connecting lodgings and venues.
Infrastructure such as HICO, the Hwabaek Convention Center to be used as the summit venue, and the International Media Center (IMC), where reporters from around the world will gather, also appeared ready.
The convention center, with a total floor area of 31,872 square meters, has completed carpet replacement, furniture layout, and security checks. The second and third floors, which house the summit hall and lounge, will be strictly controlled to maintain security.
The media center has a 440-seat briefing hall. Video of the summit will be broadcast live on a large screen, and there are also three small briefing rooms (80 seats each) for media from each country and interview booths.
◇ "After APEC is the real start… into a global tourist city like Rome"
The government plans to use this event not as a one-off but as an "inflection point for local industry." It aims to develop the Bomun Lake area into a permanent tourist attraction.
After APEC, the convention center, Lahan Select Hotel, and Gyeongju Expo Grand Park will be used as an exhibition hall, memorial hall, and experiential exhibition space, respectively.
The "K-Business Square," an exhibition hall showcasing Korea's advanced technology and industrial development, will be used as a pavilion commemorating the summit.
Using this APEC summit as a springboard, the Gyeongju city government is seeking to host an "Asian Davos Forum" and to institutionalize international forums, aiming to raise Gyeongju as a global arena for discourse where world leaders gather.
North Gyeongsang Gov. Lee Cheol-woo said, "The preparations are all done," adding, "Gyeongju will draw the world's attention with this meeting and be reborn as a city that shines like Rome."
Lee also said he recommended the National Gyeongju Museum to the U.S. side as the venue for the U.S.-China summit. Attention is on whether, as Lee hopes, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will share a historic handshake in front of the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok.