Gyeongju in last-minute sprint as APEC meeting nears

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — With about one month to go before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, officials in Gyeongju are racing to finish preparations as the ancient city is set to host the high-stakes international summit for the first time. The meeting is scheduled for Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, with a week of related events beginning Oct. 27, including the APEC ministerial meeting and cultural programs for leaders' spouses. On Wednesday afternoon, the Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) in the Bomun Tourist Complex — the summit's main venue — was bustling with construction crews. Outside, signs reading "2025 APEC Korea" had been put up as crews finished sidewalk paving and worked on the building's exterior walls. Inside the lobby, which will be open to working-level government officials, massive display screens were being installed, while tables, chairs, carpets and partition walls had yet to be set up. "We have significantly upgraded the building to meet multilateral summit standards. Renovations are 95 percent complete and wWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times