Gyeongju Prepares For APEC Summit And Beyond

On December 22, 2025, the city of Gyeongju found itself firmly in the spotlight as Mayor Joo Nak-young presided over the city’s final extended executive meeting of the year, a session that doubled as both a capstone for the city’s 2025 achievements and a springboard for its ambitions heading into 2026. The gathering, held at the Alcheon Hall of Gyeongju City Hall, drew a formidable roster of city leaders, including division and department heads, as well as the mayors of Gyeongju’s towns and districts. But what really set the tone was the city’s central role in hosting the 2025 APEC summit—an event that has not only tested Gyeongju’s administrative mettle but also set the stage for a year of transformation.

According to inews24, the meeting opened with a comprehensive review of the city’s performance across key policy areas—administration, welfare, culture, tourism, and agriculture. The APEC summit, scheduled for 2025, was naturally the headline act, but officials were keen to highlight a broader spectrum of accomplishments. Among these were a slew of awards from central government and Gyeongsangbuk-do province, and the selection of more than 60 public projects that secured large-scale national and provincial funding. These successes, city leaders argued, underscored Gyeongju’s growing administrative capabilities and its knack for attracting outside investment.

Mayor Joo, as reported by Web Economy, did not mince words about the importance of this moment. He described 2025 as “a meaningful year in which Gyeongju strengthened its administrative and urban competitiveness,” urging his team to ensure that the benefits of these achievements would be felt tangibly by ordinary citizens in 2026. “We must focus on making sure these accomplishments are experienced by the people,” he said, while also calling on city officials to “do their best for the citizens with a sense of responsibility during the remaining period.”

Yet the APEC summit has not been just a political feather in the city’s cap—it’s also posed a formidable logistical and security challenge. On the very same day as the executive meeting, the mayor of Jungnang District in Seoul officially opened the emergency response headquarters dedicated to the summit, a move designed to ensure that every conceivable risk was accounted for. According to both inews24 and Web Economy, this headquarters is a model of cooperation, bringing together national, provincial, and local governments, as well as private sector partners and local residents. The mayor declared that “the 2025 APEC summit’s safety measures were thoroughly checked and that preparations for the 2026 supplementary event were underway,” signaling a commitment to both immediate and long-term security.

One of the more unique aspects of the city’s security campaign is its emphasis on what Mayor Joo called the “clean heart” initiative. This isn’t just about picking up litter or maintaining a tidy venue; it’s a holistic campaign to foster a culture of integrity and vigilance among city officials and residents alike. “We must beware even small conveniences and complacency,” he insisted, referencing the Confucian scholar Yulgok Yi I’s concept of ‘Sohjaeyoksim’—a call to sweep away selfish desires and prioritize the public good. The mayor’s message was clear: “The attitude of public officials who put the public interest first leads to citizens’ trust.”

But the meeting wasn’t all about high-level strategy and philosophical guidance. There were plenty of nuts-and-bolts issues on the agenda, too. For example, the city’s burgeoning interest in park golf—a sport that’s been gaining popularity among residents—was discussed at length. Officials reviewed the current status of park golf course operations and debated plans for additional courses and operational improvements. This may sound trivial compared to international summits, but for many Gyeongju residents, such amenities are a tangible measure of the city’s commitment to quality of life.

Mayor Joo also stressed the importance of field-oriented administration and interdepartmental cooperation, particularly as the city prepares for the 2026 follow-up event to the APEC summit. “We must further strengthen our system of collaboration between departments so that the secured budget and ongoing projects can continue without disruption,” he said, emphasizing that the momentum built in 2025 must not be lost. He urged his team to pay particular attention to disaster and safety management, especially as winter brings risks of cold snaps and heavy snow. “Thoroughly inspect snow removal equipment and check fire prevention measures for vulnerable facilities,” he ordered, making it clear that public safety would remain a top priority.

The mayor’s focus on safety wasn’t just about the APEC summit, either. By establishing the emergency response headquarters, the city demonstrated its readiness to handle a range of contingencies, from natural disasters to public health crises. The headquarters, as noted by both inews24 and Web Economy, is not just a symbolic gesture—it’s a practical hub for coordinating resources and information across government levels and with private partners. The mayor pledged to “work diligently on the APEC summit and the subsequent 2026 event to guarantee a smooth operation,” underscoring the city’s determination to leave nothing to chance.

As the city looks ahead to 2026, there’s a sense that Gyeongju is on the cusp of a new chapter. The mayor called the coming year a “period to accelerate Gyeongju’s leap forward after APEC,” urging his team to push ahead with key projects at a brisk pace. The hope is that the legacy of the summit—improved infrastructure, enhanced international profile, and a more responsive city government—will translate into lasting benefits for residents.

Of course, none of these ambitions can be realized without the trust and engagement of Gyeongju’s citizens. Mayor Joo was quick to acknowledge this, reminding city officials that “citizen demand for services is increasing,” and that “responsibility and a sense of public duty must guide every action.” He closed the meeting with a call for thorough year-end administrative wrap-up and a renewed focus on fieldwork that directly improves residents’ daily lives.

It’s not every day that a city like Gyeongju finds itself at the center of international attention. But with the 2025 APEC summit just around the corner and a slate of ambitious projects in the pipeline, city leaders are determined to seize the moment. Whether it’s through high-level diplomacy or something as down-to-earth as a new park golf course, the message from Gyeongju’s leadership is clear: the future is being built now, one careful decision at a time.