Foreign tourists pose for a photo at Gyeongju Station in North Gyeongsang Province, Oct. 26, 2025, ahead of the city's hosting of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Summit. Yonhap
Gyeongju, the historic capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.) known for its valley of grass-covered royal tombs and Buddhist temples, is rapidly transforming into Korea’s newest international tourism powerhouse following its role as host of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
According to data released Tuesday by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, foreign tourist arrivals in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, surged 18.3 percent to nearly 569,000 between January and May compared to the same period last year. More strikingly, foreign tourist spending skyrocketed by 34.1 percent to 11.1 billion won ($8 million), underscoring a lucrative shift toward high-value experiential travel.
Officials are moving swiftly to capitalize on the momentum of last year's summit, launching an aggressive strategy to cement Gyeongju as a premier destination capable of drawing crowds away from the heavily saturated capital of Seoul.
"The successful hosting of the 2025 APEC summit was a decisive moment that showcased Gyeongju's deep historical and cultural charm to the world," said Kang Jeong-won, director-general of the ministry’s Tourism Policy Bureau.
