Gyeongju Expo Grand Park has been renamed the "APEC Commemorative Park," and the "APEC Summit Memorial Hall" has officially opened its doors. Marking the 1st anniversary of the 2025 Gyeongju APEC Summit, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province held a renaming ceremony and a memorial hall opening ceremony at the APEC Commemorative Park on the 31st.

The event was held under the theme, "Gyeongju APEC: Beyond Memories into Records, Beyond Values into the Future." The province stated its intention to preserve the achievements and historical significance of the summit as official records, while transforming its international stature into advancements in international exchange and cultural tourism.

Key figures who contributed to bidding for and successfully hosting the Gyeongju APEC Summit attended the event, including Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo, National Assembly Member Kim Seok-ki, and Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nak-young. Matias Francke, Ambassador of Chile to Korea, and Timur Klarzeishvili, Acting Consul General of Russia in Busan, also participated in the renaming performance, the memorial hall opening ceremony, and the exhibition tour.

■ The Historical Moments of the APEC Summit at a Glance... Opening of the Memorial Hall

The newly opened "APEC Summit Memorial Hall" preserves and exhibits major records and historical materials, spanning from the preparation process to the achievements of the summit.

The memorial hall features spaces recreating the actual summit venue, as well as the South Korea-U.S. and South Korea-China summit meeting rooms, alongside a retrospective photo exhibition and media contents. Visitors can view the major schedules, moments of exchange among leaders from various countries, and the summit's achievements at a glance.

The province plans to utilize the memorial hall as a history and culture education space to raise awareness among future generations, including youth, about the importance of international cooperation.

■ Gyeongju Expo Grand Park Makes a New Leap Forward as "APEC Commemorative Park"

Gyeongju Expo Grand Park, which has communicated with the world through culture and art by hosting the Gyeongju World Culture Expo, has been renamed the "APEC Commemorative Park."

The province pursued this renaming to honor the historical achievements of the 2025 Gyeongju APEC Summit and to embed the experiences and values of international cultural exchange into the park's identity.

Drawing on Gyeongju’s accumulated assets in arts and culture and its experience in hosting international events, the APEC Commemorative Park will promote the significance and values of APEC to domestic and international visitors. The province plans to foster the park as a hub for international cultural tourism.

■ From Cultural Exchange to Night Tourism... Abundant 1st Anniversary Events

Linked events celebrating the 1st anniversary of the APEC hosting continued. The "APEC International Students Smile Festa," featuring international students from around the world, and a retrospective photo exhibition were held simultaneously.

Around the Bomun Lake Resort area, the "2026 Bomun Night Run" took place, with participants running and walking through Gyeongju’s night tourism landmarks. Photo zones and stamp tours utilizing APEC commemorative facilities were also operated.

■ Post-APEC Projects: Securing Execution Capability through "Selection and Concentration"

To develop the achievements of hosting APEC into a sustainable growth engine, the province plans to review the existing 10 major Post-APEC projects and reorganize them around core projects with high feasibility and policy ripple effects.

The province aims to build international exchange and cooperation hubs through securing national budget support and regularizing the World Gyeongju Forum, as well as establishing the (tentatively named) APEC Diplomacy and Culture Center. By expanding international cultural exchange and tourism content centering around the APEC Commemorative Park and Memorial Hall, and by vitalizing the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry and attracting international events, Gyeongju plans to elevate its international competitiveness.

Gyeongju Governor Lee Cheol-woo emphasized, "The APEC Summit was a historic moment that showcased the capabilities of the Republic of Korea and Gyeongsangbuk-do to the world, and a precious opportunity for Gyeongju to leap forward as a global city." He added, "As the Post-APEC era is now just beginning, we will develop the historical legacy and international stature left by the summit into Gyeongbuk’s future growth engine, fostering Gyeongju into a leading Korean cultural tourism and international conference city visited by people worldwide and engaged in global exchange."

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