North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at North Gyeongsang Province Seoul Office in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, Feb. 19. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

As Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province, renowned for its rich cultural heritage and royal tombs, gears up to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November, Gov. Lee Cheol-woo expressed hopes that the city will become a symbol of peace with the leaders of the U.S., North Korea, China and Russia attending.

In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Lee stressed that if U.S. President Donald Trump were to extend an invitation to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, it could open the door to lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"We are working hard to ensure that the summit becomes a catalyst for peace," Lee said.

"If Trump invites Kim, and we can bring together leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the same time, the APEC summit will be a historical and pivotal moment for global peace."

He also shared details of his personal efforts to invite the leaders of the U.S., Russia and China, stressing the importance of high-level participation in this historic event.

"The Korean government has officially requested the attendance of Trump and Xi, and we are also working to secure participation from Russian and Japanese leaders," he said.

Gyeongju, once the capital of the Silla Dynasty (57 B.C.–A.D. 935), holds deep historical significance as a symbol of unification on the Korean Peninsula.

During the Silla era, it became a political, cultural and economic stronghold following Silla's unification of the Three Kingdoms in 668. North Gyeongsang Province now seeks to highlight this historical legacy as it prepares to host the upcoming APEC summit.

"Amid global uncertainties, including the war between Russia and Ukraine and ongoing geopolitical conflicts, Gyeongju is the ideal city to lay the foundation for unity," Lee said.

Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Gyeongju City Office

Gyeongju as new economic, cultural hub

Beyond its historical importance, Gyeongju also played a key role in Korea's modern economic transformation. The province's contributions were particularly notable in the heavy and chemical industries, which were central to the nation's industrialization efforts.

Lee emphasized that North Gyeongsang Province, which played a crucial role in Korea's postwar economic rise, now aims to replicate that feat by successfully hosting the APEC summit and driving regional growth.

"Our goal is to achieve the 'Miracle on the Nakdong River' through the success of APEC," he said, referencing the river that flows from the eastern to the southern regions of Korea and runs through the province.

The city and the province are also preparing to showcase Korea's economic development and future industries by hosting a range of exhibitions.

Additionally, they are organizing various programs, such as the Korea-APEC business partnership, a tech fair, APEC-linked investment briefings and on-site inspections.

With its rich historical and cultural heritage, Gyeongju is using the APEC summit as an opportunity to strengthen its global profile, promoting both economic dialogue and cultural diplomacy on the world stage.

Bomun Tourist Complex, the first tourist complex in Korea, will play a key role in showcasing the city's cultural offerings. The city will highlight elements of the Korean wave, including K-pop, food and entertainment.

Centered around the tranquil Bomun Lake, the tourist complex features a picturesque landscape adorned with cherry blossoms in spring and vibrant autumn foliage. What distinguishes Bomun is its blend of modern amenities — luxury hotels, convention centers and amusement parks — set against the backdrop of ancient Silla's rich history. Visitors can easily access UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Bulguk Temple and Seokguram Grotto located nearby.

"We are confident that traditional Korean elements — such as Korean food, traditional "hanbok" clothing and traditional "hanok" houses — along with World Heritage sites like Seokguram Grotto and Bulguk Temple, will leave an unforgettable impression on visitors," Lee said.

"These cultural treasures will undoubtedly become lasting memories for APEC attendees from around the world."

As part of its effort to highlight the city's cultural heritage, a banquet will be held at the Gyeongju National Museum.

"We plan to showcase gold crowns excavated from the tomb of a double mound, where a Silla king and queen were buried," he said.

In addition to the exhibit, special gifts will be prepared to offer the leaders of participating nations a sample of authentic Korean culture.

"During the banquet, we will display steel sculptures of each leader's face and present them with moon-shaped white porcelain jars each featuring a curved likeness of their face," Lee said.

Hanbok will also be provided for participants, particularly country leaders.

Officials from various countries enter a conference hall during the first senior officials' meeting of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, held at Hwabaek Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Yonhap

Infrastructure upgrades

Concerns have been raised about Gyeongju's hotel infrastructure and whether it can accommodate the influx of world leaders, high-level officials and business representatives from over 20 countries.

To address these concerns, North Gyeongsang Province has emphasized that the preparation committee is focusing on expanding presidential suites to accommodate the leaders of the 21 participating nations, given the summit's significance to Korea's national prestige.

"Renovations of hotels and accommodations began in September," Lee said.

"We aim to offer 35 presidential and royal suites across 12 hotels, and we anticipate that hanok hotels will also appeal to global CEOs."

In preparation for the APEC summit, North Gyeongsang Province is enhancing international accessibility by launching new irregular flight routes to China, Vietnam and Taiwan, starting in September. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen global connectivity and attract international visitors to the region.

To further enrich the summit experience, the province is recruiting international students from APEC member countries as volunteers. These volunteers will play a key role in bridging language and cultural barriers, offering personalized services to delegations and ensuring smoother communication throughout the event.

"We aim to make this summit the most successful in history, with a focus on economy, culture, peace and prosperity," Lee said. "Our goal is to elevate Gyeongju into one of the world's top 10 cultural cities and use this event as a catalyst for Korea's growth as a leading global nation."