Gyeongju APEC: well-prepared summit with little to cover

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Gyeongju, the ancient city in North Gyeongsang Province, spent more than a year preparing to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders Meeting. This reporter arrived Oct. 26, a day before the week-long gathering began, and excitement was in the air. APEC banners were everywhere, and a taxi driver pointed out newly paved roads and renovated hotels, all ready to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. On the ground, however, the experience was less glamorous. For many reporters, covering APEC was a test of patience. With hotels near the Bomun Tourist Complex, the summit venue, booked for delegations, journalists had to stay kilometers away in the city center and rely on shuttle buses that often ran late or were stuck in traffic because of heightened security. Once inside the Bomun complex, the real challenge began. Media access to the main venue, the Hwabaek International Convention Center, was completely restricted, leaving reporters confined to the nearby newly built International Media Center. TWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times