Gyeongju tightens security as Apec summit kicks off

19,000 police and military officers deployed as world leaders descend on spruced up city

- Wendy Teo South Korea Correspondent

The usually sleepy city of Gyeongju is on high alert as it plays host to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum to be held from Oct 31 to Nov 1.

Some 19,000 police and military officers have been deployed to keep the 2,000-year-old city secure as world leaders including US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and newly minted Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived ahead of the economic meetings for bilateral summits.

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is also in Gyeongju for the Apec meetings and will travel to Seoul on Nov 1 for an official visit at the invitation of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

The tightened security - and the rallies by anti-Trump and anti-Xi protesters - have led to some inconveniences for Gyeongju residents.

“Gyeongju is a very quiet city, usually, very peaceful,” Gyeongju native Park Gi-tae, 55, told The Straits Times.

The taxi driver said he had to put up with some inconvenience with some roads closed for security reasons and others crawling with rally-induced traffic jams, but added that it was something that would pass, once the meetings are over.

“On the bright side, our city has become prettier with all the sprucing up. Look at the flowers by the roadside, they usually die within the month, but the government has been replanting them so that the roads stay pretty,” said Mr Park.