Host City: Gyeongju
Seoul
Korea
Gyeongju
Gyeongju, located in the southeastern part of the Korean
Peninsula, was the capital of the Silla Kingdom (BC 57-AD 935)
for almost a thousand years. The entire city was designated
a National Park by the government in honor of the historic
temples, ruins, monuments and artifacts that can be found
throughout the area. Most prominently, it is home to three
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa
Temple, Gyeongju Historic Areas, and the historic village of
Yangdong.
These days, Gyeongju is a popular tourist destination for visitors
from Korea and abroad who flock to see the famed foliage
in the fall or cherry blossoms in the spring. The city is also
becoming increasingly popular as a convention city thanks to
its combination of old world charm and high-tech facilities.
Transportation and Accessibility
Situated in southeastern Korea, Gyeongju is accessible by two major international airports.
Incheon International Airport is connected to 185 cities in 60 countries with more than 2,000
flights a week. From the airport, Gyeongju is 3 hours away by KTX, the express train that runs 4
times a day. Delegates can also reach Gyeongju via Seoul Station. The 43 minute express train
service between Incheon Airport and Seoul Station runs in 20-30 minute intervals throughout
the day. From Seoul Station, Gyeongju is 2 hours away by KTX, with 21-26 trains running daily.
Incheon Airport
43 mins
Seoul Station
Gimhae International Airport is connected to 37 cities in 12 countries throughout Asia,
including Beijing and Tokyo, with over 1,000 flights a week. From the airport, Gyeongju is just 80
minutes away by an airport shuttle service which operates 16 times a day.
2 hrs
3 hrs
Gyeongju
80 mins
Incheon
Airport
3 hrs
Gyeongju
Station
Incheon
Airport
43 mins
Seoul
Station
Gimhae
Airport
80 mins
Gyeongju Express
Bus Terminal
35 mins
Busan Station
2 hrs
Gyeongju
Station
Gimhae Airport
Attractions: UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Bulguksa Temple
One of Korea’s best known temples, Bulguksa is a testimony to both the skills of Silla architects
and the depth of Buddhist faith. While most of the wooden buildings have been rebuilt over the
centuries, all the stone bridges, stairways and pagodas are original. The temple, originally built in
528 and expanded in 751, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Gyeongju Historic Areas
Gyeongju Historic Areas which embody the time-honored history and culture of Gyeongju
can be divided into 5 major sections: Namsan, Wolseong, Daereungwon, Hwangnyongsa, and
Sanseong. There are a total of 52 designated cultural assets that are registered as World Heritages
and the area itself was designated a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site in 2000.
Seokguram Grotto
Dating back to the same period as Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram is one of the world’s finest
Buddha shrines. Surrounded by bodhisattvas and guardian deities, the serene central statue
of Buddha gazes out over the forested hills and across the East Sea to the horizon. In 1995,
Seokguram Grotto was added to UNESCO’s prestigious World Heritage list.
Yangdong Village
Yangdong Village in Gyeongju has maintained the traditions of a typical clan-based village for
over 550 years, dating back to the Joseon Dynasty (1394-1910).
The village consists of more than 150 hanoks (traditional houses), including 54 houses that are
over 200 years old.
Inhabited by the Wolseong Son and Yeogang Lee families, Yangdong was registered as an
important Folk Material of Korea and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.