**Focus on Post-APEC Support and Emphasize Tourism Industry Development and Local Capacity Improvement**
The 2025 APEC summit, praised as an exemplary case of successful collaboration between central and local governments for a global diplomatic event, highlights the need to concentrate national efforts on Post-APEC plans.
During the 9th Central-Local Cooperation Meeting held at the President’s Office’s Freedom Hall on the 12th, Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk, emphasized the success of the APEC summit, stating, “The recent APEC summit is a successful example of cooperation between the central and provincial governments, aligning perfectly with the theme of today’s meeting.” President Lee Jae-myung is reported to have reacted positively.
Governor Lee further noted, “The summit served as an internationally significant diplomatic stage, evident from the four-hour daily queues of visitors at the Gyeongju Museum, drawing global attention.”
He added, “Over 3,000 people visited the summit venue, and strategies to preserve and utilize the site of the subsequent summit meetings are being considered.” He stressed the importance of not letting the achievements of this APEC summit be a one-off, but rather preparing for ‘Post-APEC’ as a new strategy for regional development.
Specifically, to continue the legacy of the ‘Gyeongbuk Gyeongju APEC,’ Governor Lee insisted, “We need to develop the tourism industry as a new growth axis beyond our manufacturing-centered industrial structure.” Acknowledging the current inadequacies in local tourism readiness, he called for systematic infrastructure expansion including accommodations, resorts, and recreational facilities.
He asserted, “We will enhance provincial policy research and support to invigorate the tourism industry,” emphasizing that government attention and support are crucial for the ‘Post-APEC’ strategy to benefit future generations.
Gyeongbuk, having emerged as a center for global exchange through this APEC summit, plans to focus administrative capacity on establishing a sustainable development foundation via a comprehensive ‘Post-APEC’ strategy covering tourism, culture, and economy in cooperation with the central government.
Reporter: Oh Kyung-mook