'Why Gyeongju Stole the Show': The Multimedia Secret Behind 'Korean Beauty' at APEC 2025
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
I Do-hoon, cultural director for APEC 2025 and a veteran mega‑event director, led a 20‑minute multimedia performance at Gyeongju’s Bomun Lake that traced Korea’s past, present and future. Using a 15m circular screen as a symbolic “big circle” rooted in the Won-yung‑hoe‑tong (원융회통) philosophy, the show transformed a golden caterpillar into a 'golden butterfly' representing Silla’s golden culture, then into a 'saekdong butterfly' incorporating O‑han (오한: hanji, hanbok, hansik, hangul, hanok) and K‑culture, and finally into an 'AI butterfly' symbolizing global connection under APEC’s emblem. I emphasized narrative and national brand strategy over flashy tech—technology should serve story, not overshadow it—and applied his IVV formula (I'dentity → V alue → V ision) to make Korea’s cultural identity a shared global vision. The director said Gyeongju is “the essence of Korea,” praised the role of tradition as the root of K‑pop, K‑food and K‑beauty, and noted emotional audience reactions—including tears—showing the event’s national pride impact.
