2025 Q4: How APEC Boosted Gyeongbuk’s Tourism by 16.5% – Must-Visit Spots Revealed!

The Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Foundation announced on the 15th that the tourism market in Gyeongbuk grew in the fourth quarter of 2025, driven by increases in both domestic and international visitors and a wider spread of spending on food and cultural experiences.
 
According to the foundation’s Q4 2025 Tourism Statistics Analysis, Gyeongbuk welcomed 7,039,480 domestic visitors from outside the province—a 16.5% year-on-year rise—and 242,146 international visitors, up 20% from the previous year.
 
Analysts say the uptick reflects the international attention from hosting the APEC summit, which translated into real tourism demand.
 
A combined analysis of navigation search trends, social media chatter, and card-spending data shows a clear local-focused travel pattern: travelers are pairing history with food, favoring authentic, place-based experiences.
 
Navigation search data kept Bulguksa Temple at number one, while the National Gyeongju Museum surged from 13th last year to second place.
 
The museum’s profile rose after the “Silla Golden Crown” special exhibition went viral on social media, making it a must-see attraction.
 
For autumn getaways, Goryeong’s Dasan ginkgo forest and a nearby cosmos flower garden became popular photo spots, pushing their search rankings up to 28th.
 
Social media mentions of Gyeongbuk travel climbed 33% year-on-year. Interest in Gyeongju and the Bomun resort area spiked thanks to the APEC effect, and Andong’s Hahoe Village earned praise as a historical space where tradition and modern life coexist.
 
Tourism spending also expanded. Card-transaction data show tourism-related expenditures rose 9.4% from a year earlier to about 1.5021 trillion KRW (approximately $1,126,575,000 USD).
 
In lodging, condo bookings jumped sharply, signaling stronger demand from families and groups. Local specialty desserts and café-hopping became a trend, steadily increasing spending in the bakery and beverage sectors.
 
By municipality, Yeongyang County posted the highest visitor growth at 21.4% year-on-year, followed by Mungyeong City at 21.2% and Yeongdeok County at 19.4%.
 
Yeongyang drew attention for wellness tourism centered on its birch forests and the Dudeul Village. Mungyeong’s growth was driven by hands-on food tourism, including the Yakdol Hanwoo Festival and apple festivals. Yeongdeok saw a big surge in out-of-town visitors after a new highway opened and seasonal king-crab tourism picked up.
 
Kim Nam-il, president of the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Foundation, said, “The fourth quarter of 2025 was a period when Gyeongbuk’s elevated international standing from the APEC summit translated into tangible gains in visitor numbers. We will work to strengthen food- and experience-focused tourism content that leverages the APEC tourism legacy, helping the region rise as a global travel destination.”