Thousands of international visitors flocked to Gyeongju in late October for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where world leaders and global business figures gathered to discuss trade and technology. However, many tourists interviewed during their visits were completely unaware of the major diplomatic meetings taking place, yet found themselves captivated by this ancient Korean city.
Gyeongju, often called "a museum without walls," served as the capital of the Silla Dynasty from 57 B.C. to 935 A.D. for nearly a millennium. The city houses four UNESCO World Heritage sites and 36 state-designated national treasures, representing about 10 percent of South Korea's total national treasures. According to Korea Tourism Organization data, more than 1.15 million foreign visitors traveled to Gyeongju between December 2023 and November 2024 – a remarkably high number for a city that isn't a major metropolitan area.
Leo, a 60-year-old American tourist, exemplified the typical visitor experience. He had barely heard of Gyeongju before his visit and was completely unaware of the APEC meetings taking place during his stay. "It was a surprise trip. My wife planned the whole thing," Leo explained. "I came with pretty high expectations, and the city exceeded them. It's beautiful, historic and scenic, and it really feels like the spirit of Korea. And the food has been great. I loved the pork soup (dwaeji-gukbap, a regional pork-and-rice soup)."
Bilal, a 29-year-old Turkish traveler living in Germany, chose Gyeongju as the final destination of his 10-day Korean journey. He found the city offered a deeper cultural experience compared to other major Korean destinations. "Seoul is a modern city where you can shop and also see the palaces," Bilal observed. "Busan feels more like a tourist destination with the sea. But Gyeongju has a deeper heritage."
When Bilal consulted ChatGPT for travel recommendations, the AI directed him to Bulguk Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its stone pagodas and mountainside location that represents a defining symbol of Korea's Buddhist heritage. "The temple reminded me a bit of the palaces in Seoul – the colors and the patterns," he said. "The first impression here is really beautiful." He only discovered the APEC summit was occurring when Chinese President Xi Jinping's arrival caused traffic restrictions on Thursday. "It was quite difficult to get here," he noted.
Declan, 26, and Rachel, 25, a couple from Toronto, specifically chose Gyeongju after reading blog posts recommending the city as a place to experience traditional Korean houses called hanok, rather than staying in typical hotels. Declan was particularly impressed by the ancient burial mounds near Cheomseongdae observatory, a 7th-century stone tower from the Silla Dynasty believed to be Asia's oldest observatory. "I've never seen tombs like this before," he remarked. "We also tried tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes) and sundae (blood sausage), and we really enjoyed them."
Both Toronto visitors agreed that Gyeongju merited a visit regardless of any international events. While they found the city busier than expected due to the summit, it still maintained its characteristically calm atmosphere. "Gyeongju felt like a good balance among the other cities on our trip," Declan concluded, highlighting how the ancient capital continues to attract visitors based purely on its historical and cultural merits rather than contemporary political significance.
