Gyeongju 2025: Where Silla’s Gold Crowns Meet Drone Light Shows During APEC

K-Culture & Travel | 2025-10-30 15:16:51
[mediK / HEALTH IN NEWS] This fall, as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit convenes in Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom will pulse with a rare fusion of heritage and innovation. From the floating stage on Woljeonggyo Bridge to multimedia shows over Bomun Lake and pop-up exhibitions across the city’s center, Gyeongju transforms into a grand stage where history meets tomorrow.

Throughout the summit, locals and visitors alike can enjoy open-to-all events that reinterprets Silla’s legacy through modern creativity—media art installations, global exhibitions, hands-on traditional crafts, K-culture performances, and international forums. Gyeongju is ready to greet the world as a breathing, beating city where antiquity and youth, culture and cutting-edge tech coexist.

Silla Cultural Festival (Oct. 10–12, across Gyeongju)

One of Korea’s oldest heritage festivals, it floods the streets with royal processions, traditional music, and dance. Travelers can immerse themselves in the rituals, costumes, and artistry of a millennium-old kingdom.

Multimedia Spectacle (Oct. 17–Nov. 2, Bomun Tourist Complex)

Fireworks, drones, and lasers weave across Bomun Lake, marrying Silla aesthetics with high-tech wizardry. The evening light show over the lake has already earned the nickname “Korea’s answer to a world-class spectacle.”

Multimedia show at Bomun Lake in the Bomun Tourist Complex. (Image courtesy of Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Corporation)
Multimedia show at Bomun Lake in the Bomun Tourist Complex. (Image courtesy of Gyeongbuk Culture & Tourism Corporation)


K-POP Concert (Oct. 10, Gyeongju Civic Stadium)

A summit-timed mega-concert draws young fans from every corner of the globe. It delivers a concentrated showcase of Korean pop choreography, sound, and the electrifying energy of fandom culture.

Hanbok Fashion Show (Oct. 29, Woljeonggyo Bridge)

On the historic bridge’s moonlit surface, models glide in reimagined hanbok under the theme “Our Hanbok, Soaring into Tomorrow.” Drone light formations turn the night sky into a dreamlike runway.

Nam June Paik Retrospective (July–November, U-yang Museum of Art)

The pioneer of video art returns home with seminal works exploring “Humanity in the Circuits.” The exhibition mirrors APEC’s spirit of innovation through flickering screens and meditative reflections on technology and humanity.

Nam June Paik Retrospective: “Humanity in the Circuits” at U-yang Museum of Art. (Image courtesy of U-yang Museum of Art)
Nam June Paik Retrospective: “Humanity in the Circuits” at U-yang Museum of Art. (Image courtesy of U-yang Museum of Art)


Daereungwon Media Art (Oct. 24–Nov. 16, Daereungwon Royal Tombs)

Projections and light cloak the ancient tumuli, allowing visitors to walk through layered timelines where royal tombs meet digital ghosts—history made luminous.

Youth Day Festival (third Saturday in September, Gyeongju Culture Station 1918)

Emerging artists take over the streets with live bands, graffiti walls, and impromptu performances, channeling the city’s creative undercurrent.

Daereungwon Media Art:“Daereungwon Dream Blossom.” (Image courtesy of National Heritage Media Art Daereungwon)
Daereungwon Media Art:“Daereungwon Dream Blossom.” (Image courtesy of National Heritage Media Art Daereungwon)


International Forum on History and Culture (Sept. 19–21, HICO and other venues)

Scholars and policymakers from around the world debate heritage preservation and sustainable urban futures. For travelers, it’s a front-row seat to Korea’s cultural diplomacy in action.

Silla Gold Crown Special Exhibition (Oct. 31–Nov. 23, Gyeongju National Museum)

The museum’s literal crown jewel showcases royal gold crowns and treasures that epitomized Silla’s artistic zenith. Archaeology, craftsmanship, and regal symbolism converge.

The Gold Crown from the North Mound of Hwangnamdaechong Tomb — designated a National Treasure of Korea. (Image courtesy of Gyeongju National Museum)
The Gold Crown from the North Mound of Hwangnamdaechong Tomb — designated a National Treasure of Korea. (Image courtesy of Gyeongju National Museum)

Cultural and artistic programs scheduled during APEC 2025
Cultural and artistic programs scheduled during APEC 2025


Oh Ha Eun medi·K TEAM press@themedik.kr
Copyright © 2020 mediK. All rights reserved.

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