Prime Minister Kim Min-seok inspected the site situation ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit three months in advance.
On the 11th, Prime Minister Kim visited the Gyeongju Hwaebak Convention Center, the venue for the APEC summit, to check the status of key infrastructure such as the summit hall, VIP accommodations, and dining venues. He emphasized the need for swift and thorough preparations to avoid any disruptions to the event.
On that morning, President Lee Jae-myung directed Prime Minister Kim via X (formerly Twitter) to ensure that progress on infrastructure facilities related to the Gyeongju APEC was being monitored. In response, Prime Minister Kim said, "I am already on my way to Gyeongju for the first site inspection of APEC" and added, "I will comprehensively assess the site situation and outline future plans."
Prime Minister Kim pointed out that since the completion of key APEC infrastructure is scheduled for September, if preparations are not adequately made, a situation of being pressed for time might arise. He urged that necessary measures be taken swiftly in advance and also instructed to ensure thorough preparations so that no disruptions occur in future processes, especially considering safety at the worksite during heat waves.
Prime Minister Kim reviewed the progress of various infrastructures, including the summit hall, media center, accommodation facilities, and dining venues, during the site inspection. He emphasized not only the renovation work for each accommodation but also the importance of service quality, directing enhancements in staff training.
He also instructed that the dining venue, where construction progress is the slowest, should be completed with sufficient time to ensure a seamless preparation for the dinner and cultural events.
The APEC preparation planning team of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the APEC support team of North Gyeongsang Province stated that they would thoroughly review concerning issues and check the sector-specific response plans. The Office for Government Policy Coordination held a first task force (TF) meeting led by the Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination on the 8th and plans to discuss ongoing response measures with relevant agencies in subsequent meetings.
Prime Minister Kim said, "The APEC summit is a very important international event, so we must showcase Korea's normalization to the world and create an event that exceeds expectations and satisfies and impresses global leaders and numerous businesspeople."
He added, "Following the first site inspection, I will revisit the site next week to carefully check all matters concerning accommodations, flights and transportation, and cultural and economic venues."