Models showcase a variety of hanbok designs on a special stage set up at Woljeong Bridge in Gyeongju during the 2025 APEC Summit Hanbok Fashion Show on October 29.
GYEONGJU, Oct. 31 (Korea Bizwire) — The historic city of Gyeongju is dazzling visitors and world leaders alike during this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, blending the elegance of Korean tradition with cutting-edge technology in a vibrant display of cultural diplomacy.
Under the twin themes of “Cultural APEC” and “Economic APEC,” nighttime media art shows, hanbok fashion events, and high-tech exhibitions have transformed the ancient capital into a stage where history and innovation converge.
On Wednesday evening, a hanbok fashion show held on the floating stage of Woljeong Bridge drew more than 11,000 spectators, filling all 8,000 seats and attracting hundreds more who stood to watch. First Lady Kim Hye Kyung attended the event alongside Diana Fox Carney, the wife of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The show was designed to highlight the architectural beauty of Woljeong Bridge and the grace of hanbok, featuring a “ㅎ”-shaped runway symbolizing the five pillars of Korean culture—hanbok, hansik, hanok, hanji, and hangul—set against a backdrop of media projections, drone lanterns, and illuminated nightscapes.
Elsewhere, multimedia performances around Bomun Lake, near the main APEC venues and hotels, have drawn more than 15,000 viewers. The show combines laser lights, music, and video across a 15-meter circular structure that bridges Silla-era history with modern Korea.
At Daereungwon, a UNESCO heritage site famous for its ancient royal tombs, 61,000 visitors have experienced “The Gate of a Thousand Years Opens,” an immersive media art program that projects the splendor of Silla kings and queens onto the burial mounds. More than 12,000 visitors have also viewed the Cheomseongdae observatory light installations.
Meanwhile, the “K-Tech Showcase” and economic exhibition at Gyeongju Expo Park have attracted global delegates eager to glimpse South Korea’s next-generation technologies, with over 3,000 and 1,400 visitors respectively.
The events highlight the country’s leadership in semiconductors, mobility, and digital innovation, alongside exhibits that connect industrial progress with cultural heritage.
A multimedia show celebrating the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit takes place on the waters of Bomun Lake in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on the evening of October 27.
On Thursday, first ladies from APEC member states are scheduled to tour Bulguksa Temple and the Wooyang Museum of Contemporary Art, viewing the iconic Dabotap and Seokgatap pagodas, a special Nam June Paik exhibition, and another hanbok fashion show accompanied by a piano recital.
Despite the spectacle, organized tour programs for summit delegates have seen limited participation, as most attendees remain bound to packed diplomatic schedules. Only 127 guests have joined the half-day tours prepared by the provincial government so far.
First Lady Kim Hye Kyung, wife of President Lee Jae Myung, poses for a photo with tourists dressed in hanbok during her visit to Gyochon Village in Gyeongju on October 30. Kim has been attending events and meeting with citizens in traditional Korean attire throughout the APEC summit period to promote the beauty and elegance of hanbok. (Photo provided by the Presidential Office)
Even so, officials say Gyeongju’s radiant nights have already left a lasting impression. “The hanbok fashion show and multimedia performances are enchanting our guests, while the economic programs showcase the strength of K-technology,” a Gyeongbuk provincial official said.
Image credit: Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
