As world leaders and delegates prepare to gather for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting from October 31 to November 1, the host city of Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province stands as one of Korea's most historically significant destinations. Often described as a "museum without walls," this southeastern city served as the capital of the Silla Kingdom from 57 BCE to 935 CE for nearly a thousand years, making it a living testament to Korea's ancient heritage.

Gyeongju's landscape remains dotted with countless tombs, temples, historic buildings, and ruins that bring the distant Silla era to life for modern visitors. The city draws frequent comparisons to ancient Athens or Rome, where open-air ruins, sacred monuments, and royal tombs form part of the everyday landscape, creating direct connections between visitors and the past. By hosting the APEC summit in this cradle of the Silla Kingdom, global diplomatic dialogue takes place within the context of Korea's deep historical roots, demonstrating how today's innovation and diplomacy build upon centuries of cultural legacy.

The strategic location of Gyeongju in a natural basin made it easily defensible, allowing it to flourish as the capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly a millennium. During this golden age, the city was known as Seorabeol and, according to historians, was home to almost one million people during the Unified Silla era, making it one of the world's most populated cities at that time. This remarkable population size reflected the kingdom's prosperity and political importance on the Korean Peninsula.

The history of Gyeongju cannot be told without highlighting the remarkable rulers who shaped the Silla Kingdom. Queen Seondeok, who reigned from 632 to 647, holds the distinction of being the first female sovereign on the Korean Peninsula. Despite facing significant resistance due to her gender, her reign produced lasting achievements that still stand today, including the construction of Bunhwangsa Temple and Cheomseongdae Observatory, one of Asia's oldest surviving astronomical structures. Her legacy became so influential that it inspired the popular 2009 television drama "The Great Queen Seondeok."

Another pivotal figure in Gyeongju's history was King Munmu, who ruled from 661 to 681 and is remembered for two major accomplishments. He successfully completed the unification of the three kingdoms of Silla, Baekje, and Goguryeo, bringing the Korean Peninsula under unified rule. Additionally, he defended the peninsula against invasions from the Tang Dynasty of China, securing the kingdom's independence. The Unified Silla period eventually came to an end in 935 when the last monarch, King Gyeongsun, surrendered to the emerging Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), which shifted Korea's political center away from Gyeongju.

During its time as the capital, Buddhism flourished throughout the country, and evidence of this religious and cultural golden age can be found everywhere in modern Gyeongju. Hundreds of temples, stone statues, and sites of worship still stand in significant locations such as Mount Nam, the former site of Hwangnyongsa Temple, Bulguksa Temple, and the renowned Seokguram Grotto. This flourishing Buddhist culture also gave rise to influential religious figures, including the famous monk Uisang (625-702), who established the Hwaeom sect in Korea and significantly influenced Korean Buddhist philosophy and practice.

Fast-forwarding more than a millennium, Gyeongju entered a complex new chapter under Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. During this period, major archaeological excavations began under Japanese supervision, ultimately leading to the opening of the city's first museum. While these efforts advanced the scholarly study of Korea's ancient heritage and brought international attention to the site's significance, they were also exploited to serve Japan's own political and cultural agenda during the occupation.

A notable example of this occurred in 1926 when Japan invited then-Crown Prince Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden (1882-1973) to participate in the excavation of Seobongchong Tomb in Gyeongju. The crown prince was visiting Japan as part of his world tour, and Japanese officials, knowing about his interest and experience in archaeology, organized this special trip to curry favor with the Swedish royal family. This event demonstrated how Japan used Korea's archaeological treasures for diplomatic purposes during the colonial period.

Interestingly, Gyeongju was also beloved by Japanese civilians who lived in the city during the colonial period. Japanese author Kazue Morisaki (1927-2022), who spent her childhood in Gyeongju, wrote about her experiences in her essay book "Gyeongju Is the Sound of Mother Calling" (2020). In her reflections, she recalled how, despite the difficult colonial context, she felt genuinely at home in the small city filled with relics of the past, including ancient tomb mounds, historic structures, and Buddhist statues that created a unique atmosphere.

After Korea's liberation in 1945, and particularly from the latter half of the 20th century onward, Gyeongju's heritage began to be viewed not only as a valuable window into the past but also as a cornerstone of national identity and a major tourism destination. The Korean government, working closely with local authorities, invested significantly in restoration projects, preservation efforts, and infrastructure development to make the city's remarkable open-air historical sites more accessible to both domestic and international visitors.

In the 1970s, the government undertook a major development project, creating the Bomun Tourist Complex around the scenic Bomun Lake area. This development provided modern accommodation and facilities while maintaining respect for the historical character of the region. The efforts to preserve and promote Gyeongju's heritage reached a significant milestone in 2000 when the Gyeongju Historic Areas were officially inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing their outstanding universal value to humanity.

Between 1998 and 2019, the city successfully hosted various Gyeongju World Culture Expos, international events that showcased Korea's cultural heritage to global audiences and established Gyeongju as a major destination for cultural tourism. These events helped raise international awareness of the city's historical significance and demonstrated Korea's commitment to preserving and sharing its cultural legacy with the world.

Today, Gyeongju stands as one of Korea's most visited heritage cities, successfully showcasing its preservation efforts alongside diverse visitor experiences that cater to tourists from around the world. Many of its most precious treasures, including the UNESCO-listed Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, are carefully conserved through ongoing preservation programs while remaining active sites of Buddhist worship and spiritual practice. The city continues to face the ongoing challenge of balancing modern urban development with heritage protection, serving as a living testament to Korea's enduring past and its commitment to preserving cultural legacy for future generations.