Gyeongju's cultural showcase fades as APEC gala dinner shifts to hotel

The government's decision to move the gala dinner for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting from a newly built hall at the Gyeongju National Museum to a hotel has sparked controversy over wasted taxpayer money and a missed opportunity to promote the ancient city's cultural heritage. The APEC event is due to take place in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, with the attendance of world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping expected. The dinner was initially planned to be held at a newly built traditional Korean hanok-style banquet hall in the central courtyard of the museum, according to the APEC organizing committee. But on Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which oversees the committee, said the event will instead be held in the grand ballroom of Lahan Select Gyeongju, a five-star hotel in the Bomun Tourist Complex. The ministry said the change was necessary in order to accommodate a greater number of guests, noting that this multilateral gathering represents the Lee Jae Myung adminiWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times