Gyeongju Becomes Global Spotlight After APEC Summit
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Gyeongju, the ancient Silla capital, has seen a surge of visitors following the 2025 APEC leaders’ meeting held there. The National Gyeongju Museum is the hottest attraction thanks to a special exhibition “Silla Gold Crowns: Power and Prestige,” which reunites six Silla gold crowns — an unprecedented display drawing long lines and daily early-morning ticket queues. Tourists follow a popular route from the museum to Cheomseongdae (an ancient astronomical observatory) and Daereungwon tombs, enjoying seasonal flower fields and local experiences like the “Bidanbeolle” (beetle-shaped) tourist tram. Nearby the Cheonmachong tomb, the Hwangnam-ppang bakery — famous after Chinese President Xi Jinping praised its taste — faces hours-long queues. Art venues are also busy: the Wooyang Museum’s Nam June Paik retrospective and the Solgeo Museum’s “Silla Fragrance” exhibit celebrate Korean media art and Silla aesthetics, tying cultural programs to APEC’s global agenda and boosting Gyeongju’s profile as an international cultural destination.
