[Provided by Gyeongju City]
[Provided by Gyeongju City]

Gyeongju City visited North Gyeongsang Province on Monday, where Mayor Ju Nak-young met with Governor Lee Cheol-woo to request support for seven key local priorities, including follow-up projects from the APEC summit, a restructuring of the radioactive waste disposal site host-area support program, and the expansion of residential infrastructure.

The meeting covered a broad range of issues: leveraging the achievements of the 2025 APEC summit as a driver of regional growth, improving the effectiveness of the long-stalled radioactive waste disposal site host-area support program, enhancing living conditions in eastern Gyeongju, securing a stable water supply, and preparing for the second round of public institution relocations to the regions.

Gyeongju City asked the province to support construction of an APEC Summit Memorial Hall — to be called the "Hall of Culture" — that would systematically preserve the records and achievements of the 2025 APEC summit and serve as a hub for post-APEC initiatives.

The planned facility would house APEC-related archives, exhibition spaces, and education and experience programs, and would be linked to follow-up projects such as the World Gyeongju Forum.

On the radioactive waste disposal site host-area support program, the city focused on restructuring existing projects to better reflect changed local conditions and residents' needs, with the aim of improving their practical effectiveness.

The city proposed converting long-unimplemented projects into a "Gyeongju Technopolis Development Project" to strengthen the industrial, employment and residential base in eastern Gyeongju. It also called for the early convening of a working committee to approve changes needed for the construction of Gyeongju General Stadium, and for the smooth advancement of an arts creation center project.

In addition, the city asked the province to strategically place public institutions — ones that can be linked to Gyeongju's industrial, research and cultural foundations — in preparation for the government's second round of public institution relocations to regional areas.

"We need to connect the achievements of hosting APEC to a new foundation for regional growth, and push forward the radioactive waste disposal site host-area support program in a way that is effective and responsive to changed conditions and residents' needs," Mayor Ju said. "We will work closely with North Gyeongsang Province to ensure that the key issues affecting residents' lives and Gyeongju's future translate into concrete results."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com