[🇺🇸] The Unexpected City that Attracted 3 Million Tourists After APEC

Busan is on track to become the first city in South Korea to reach 3 million foreign tourists in a single year. This shift in Korea's tourism landscape, which was once centered around Seoul, is largely attributed to the APEC summit held in Gyeongju at the end of October. The summit wasn’t just another international event—it played a key role in creating a new tourism belt linking Busan and Gyeongju.

Gyeongju Bulguksa Temple

As of October 2025, the number of foreign tourists visiting Busan surpassed 2.35 million, setting a new record. The spending scale also grew by 33.2% compared to the previous year, reaching 6.594 trillion KRW. Notably, in October, the number of high-speed bus reservations for foreigners traveling between Busan and Gyeongju increased by 185% compared to the previous year. Most of these travelers were long-haul tourists from the US, Europe, and Australia, indicating a growing trend of “regional travel” connecting the two cities via Seoul.

Busan Nurimaru APEC House

Experts are predicting that “this APEC summit has successfully merged Busan’s K-culture with Gyeongju’s K-heritage, creating the ‘most Korean regional tourism route’ and leaving a lasting impression worldwide.” They also forecast that Busan’s goal of 3 million tourists will be easily achieved.

Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan

Furthermore, the successful “tourism alliance” between Gyeongju and Busan is seen as an important example of how international events in regions outside of Seoul can build a sustainable local tourism model.

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