Gyeongju, South Korea — The "Millennium Capital" of Gyeongju is ablaze with light as it prepares to host the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting, now just five days away. The city's rich historical nightscape has been dramatically enhanced with high-tech media art and illumination projects, promising a spectacle "more beautiful than the day" for visiting dignitaries and tourists alike.
The transformation centers primarily on the Bomun Tourist Complex, the cluster of accommodations for the heads of state. Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City have invested a total of 15 billion won (approximately $11 million USD) in nightscape improvement, introducing cutting-edge scenic lighting, nighttime content, and immersive media art installations.
Areas surrounding the Presidential Retreat Suites (PRS) have been revitalized with "Golden City" Gyeongju's signature gold color, illuminating streets and trees. The centerpiece of this transformation is the spectacular multimedia show, The Mystery of a Thousand Years, Fly Tomorrow, featuring a stunning convergence of media art, lasers, drones, and water effects over Bomun Lake. This show, which began on October 25th, will continue to dazzle visitors through November 3rd.
At the Bomun Lake waterfront plaza, a 15-meter-tall symbolic structure inspired by the birth myth of Silla's founder, King Park Hyeokgeose, has been erected. This egg-shaped monument, dubbed Birth, features metallic structures and LED panels representing the 21 APEC member economies, alongside a 3D stereoscopic video installation commemorating the summit.
Further captivating night viewers, Cheomseongdae, East Asia’s oldest surviving astronomical observatory, has been draped in media art. The Korea Heritage Service allocated 1 billion won (approximately $750,000 USD) to apply projection mapping technology across the structure’s exterior wall. This digital spectacle showcases the star observations of Silla-era astronomers, with vivid renderings of the Milky Way, meteor showers, and comets cascading down the ancient stones, creating a magnificent sight.
The façade of Yukbuchon, Korea's first modern international convention center, also serves as a canvas for media façade art. It vividly narrates the founding story of the Silla Kingdom, incorporating tales of the Big Dipper and a representation of the 2,025-ring Seongdeokdaewang Bell, symbolizing the convergence of history and technology.
Gyeongju's perennial top-tier night attractions have been polished for the international stage. Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, the former auxiliary palace for Silla princes, shines brightly, with nighttime illumination highlighting the Imhaejeon pavilion and reflecting the palace's beauty on the Wolji pond's surface. Woljeonggyo Bridge, faithfully restored in 2018, remains a breathtaking sight. The 66-meter-long wooden bridge, with its two gatehouses illuminated against the night sky, is particularly exquisite, serving as a must-see landmark on the city’s nighttime tour route.
A provincial official stated, "We have introduced diverse nighttime content with the goal of making Gyeongju's night more beautiful than its day. We hope to present APEC leaders and visitors with an unforgettable Gyeongju night, strengthening the city’s status as a premier nighttime tourism destination and cultural hub."
With the seamless integration of Silla's thousand-year legacy and advanced media technology, Gyeongju's illuminated transformation sets a golden stage for the APEC Summit, promising a cultural experience as profound as the region's ancient history.
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