[Korean Culture - Travel] APEC Gyeongju: The Korean Snack Xi Jinping Loved — Hwangnam-bbang & Daereungwon Complete Travel Guide 2026
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In 2025, during the APEC Summit in Gyeongju, President Lee Jae-myung presented Chinese President Xi Jinping with a box of freshly baked Hwangnam-bbang, wrapped in a traditional Korean bojagi cloth. Xi Jinping expressed his gratitude, saying it was delicious — and President Lee immediately sent 200 additional boxes to the Chinese delegation, then gifted the same treat to every APEC member nation's delegation.
That moment turned a humble local pastry into a global diplomatic symbol. And it all happened here — in Gyeongju, a city where 1,500-year-old royal tombs sit quietly in the middle of a modern neighborhood.
Spend a day walking among the ancient burial mounds of Daereungwon, taste the pastry that moved a world leader, and fall asleep in a 100-year-old Hanok house. This guide takes you from Incheon Airport all the way to the heart of Gyeongju — step by step. Let's go! π
✈️ Step 1 — From Incheon Airport to Gyeongju
π Option A — KTX (Fastest & Most Comfortable!)
| Airport Railroad (AREX) | Incheon Airport T1 → Seoul Station (approx. 43 min / ₩9,000) |
| KTX | Seoul Station → Singyeongju Station (approx. 2 hours / approx. ₩49,300~) |
| Total Travel Time | Approx. 3 hours (including transfer) |
| Total Cost | Approx. ₩58,000~ |
How to book KTX:
- KORAIL official site → https://www.letskorail.com
- English booking available — advance reservation recommended during peak season!
From Singyeongju Station → Gyeongju City Center (Hwangnidan-gil)
π‘ Tip! Singyeongju Station is located outside the city center — about 15~20 minutes away by taxi. Download KakaoT before you arrive and book a taxi the moment you exit the station — no Korean needed!
- App Store / Google Play → Search "KakaoT"
- Official site: https://www.kakaot.com
- Taxi fare: approx. ₩15,000~18,000
π Option B — Express Bus (Best Value!)
| Departure | Incheon Airport T1 → Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal (direct) |
| Travel Time | Approx. 4 hours 30 min |
| Fare | Approx. ₩35,000~ |
| Booking | Tmoney Intercity Bus → https://intercitybus.tmoney.co.kr |
π‘ Tip! Luggage goes in the bus compartment for free — great if you're carrying a big suitcase!
π¨ Step 2 — Where to Stay — Make Hwangnidan-gil Your Base!
Hwangnidan-gil is the beating heart of Gyeongju. From here, Daereungwon is a 5-minute walk and Hwangnam-bbang original store is 10 minutes on foot. Stay here and you can explore the entire city without needing a taxi.
π― Recommended Accommodation
① Silla Gotaek (μ λΌκ³ ν) ⭐⭐⭐ (Top pick for foreign visitors!)
A 100-year-old traditional Hanok preserved in its original form, right in the heart of Hwangnidan-gil. Daereungwon, Cheomseongdae Observatory, and Hwangnam-bbang are all walkable. At night, you can see the royal burial mounds glowing golden from your room.
- Price: From approx. ₩120,000 / night
- Book via: Trip.com or Airbnb
② Hwangnamgwan Hanok Hotel (ν©λ¨κ΄ νμ₯νΈν ) ⭐⭐ (Korea Tourism Quality Certified!)
Officially certified by the Korea Tourism Organization. Both Ondol (heated floor) rooms and bed rooms available — perfect for foreign visitors who want the Hanok experience with modern comfort.
- Price: From approx. ₩80,000 / night
- Book via: Yeogi or Yanolja
③ Soi Hanokstay (μμ΄ νμ₯μ€ν μ΄) ⭐ (Budget pick! Perfect for backpackers)
3-minute walk to Hwangnidan-gil, 5-minute walk to Daereungwon. A cleanly renovated Hanok guesthouse — the most popular budget option among foreign travelers.
- Price: From approx. ₩60,000 / night
- Book via: Myrealtrip → https://www.myrealtrip.com
π Copy & paste the links below to search for hotels!
1️⃣ Yeogi (μ¬κΈ°μ΄λ) → https://www.yeogi.com/domestic-accommodations?keyword=κ²½μ£Ό+ν©λ¦¬λ¨κΈΈ&searchType=KEYWORD
2️⃣ Yanolja (μΌλμ) → https://www.yanolja.com/hotel
4️⃣ Trip.com → https://kr.trip.com/hotels/gyeongju/hotel-list/
π️ Step 3 — Daereungwon (λλ¦μ) — Where Silla Kings Sleep
Why is Daereungwon so special?
Right in the middle of a modern Korean city, 23 massive grass-covered mounds rise quietly from the earth. These are royal tombs — the final resting places of Silla Kingdom kings and queens who lived over 1,500 years ago. The sheer scale of them, sitting so naturally inside a living city, leaves every visitor speechless.
Inside Cheonmachong (μ²λ§μ΄), you can actually enter a royal tomb. Gold crowns, gold belts, ancient glass vessels — real artifacts excavated from this very mound are displayed inside. Most foreign visitors say the same thing after walking out: "I had no idea something like this existed in Korea."
Spring brings cherry blossoms. Autumn brings crimson leaves. And every evening, golden lights illuminate the mounds in a way that makes you feel like you've stepped back 1,500 years.
Visitor Information
| Admission | Free (Cheonmachong interior: separate fee) |
| Hours | 09:00~22:00 (last ticket 21:30) |
| Address | 9 Gyerim-ro, Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do |
| Naver Map | https://map.naver.com/v5/search/λλ¦μ+κ²½μ£Ό |
π‘ Tip! Visit after 7:00 PM! The golden floodlights make the burial mounds glow in a way that's far more breathtaking than daytime. Best photo of your trip — guaranteed! πΈ
π Step 4 — Hwangnam-bbang — The Snack That Made History
What is Hwangnam-bbang?
Born in Gyeongju's Hwangnam-dong neighborhood in 1937, Hwangnam-bbang is a soft, thin-crusted pastry filled with sweet red bean paste. It's baked — not fried — so it's light, never greasy. The outside is gently crisp, the inside is moist and sweetly comforting.
The same recipe. 88 years. No preservatives. No artificial coloring. The shelf life is just 3 days — which means you can only truly eat it here, in Gyeongju, while it's still fresh. That's the whole point.
The Pastry That Went to the World Stage
At the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, President Lee Jae-myung personally gifted Xi Jinping a box of freshly baked Hwangnam-bbang wrapped in a Korean bojagi cloth. Xi Jinping expressed his thanks, calling it delicious. President Lee then sent 200 more boxes to the Chinese delegation — and gifted the same treat to every APEC member nation. The story swept global media overnight. The next morning, the line outside the original store stretched for 3 hours.
This is that pastry. Come taste it yourself.
π Hwangnam-bbang Original Store (ν©λ¨λΉ΅ λ³Έμ )
Founded in 1937, operated by the 3rd generation of the same family. Officially designated as the APEC ceremonial confection. Baked fresh from early morning every single day.
Menu
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hwangnam-bbang Box 1 (20 pieces) | ₩24,000 |
| Hwangnam-bbang Box 2 (30 pieces) | ₩36,000 |
- Address: 783 Taejong-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Hours: 08:00~22:00 (open year-round)
- Naver Map: https://map.naver.com/v5/search/ν©λ¨λΉ΅+λ³Έμ +κ²½μ£Ό
- ⚠️ Peak season wait: 1~3 hours — early morning visit strongly recommended!
- ⚠️ Purchase limit: 2 boxes per person
π± Step 5 — 3 Apps Every Korea Traveler Needs
1️⃣ KakaoT — Taxi App Essential from the moment you exit Singyeongju Station. Register an overseas card and book taxis anywhere — no Korean needed.
- Download: Search "KakaoT" on App Store / Google Play
- Site: https://www.kakaot.com
2️⃣ Naver Map — Navigation App Google Maps doesn't work well in Korea. Naver Map is the local standard for bus routes, walking directions, and real-time transit.
- Download: Search "Naver Map" on App Store / Google Play
3️⃣ Papago — Translation App Point your camera at any menu, sign, or label — instant translation. A must-have for independent travelers.
- Download: Search "Papago" on App Store / Google Play
π️ Your Full Itinerary at a Glance
| Time | Activity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 AM | Incheon Airport → KTX → Singyeongju Station | ₩58,000~ |
| Day 1 PM | KakaoT taxi → Hwangnidan-gil Hanok check-in | ₩15,000~ |
| Day 1 Eve | Hwangnidan-gil dinner + Daereungwon night walk | Free |
| Day 2 AM | Hwangnam-bbang original store (early visit!) | ₩24,000~ |
| Day 2 AM | Daereungwon + Cheonmachong tomb tour | Free~ |
| Day 2 PM | Cheomseongdae Observatory + Hwangnidan-gil cafe | — |
| Day 2 Eve | Gyeongju → Seoul KTX return | ₩49,300~ |
π’ Which Gyeongju experience calls you the most?
1️⃣ Walking inside a 1,500-year-old royal tomb 2️⃣ Eating the snack that moved a world leader 3️⃣ Sleeping in a 100-year-old Hanok house 4️⃣ The golden night view of Daereungwon
Drop your number in the comments — we read every one! π
#Kkoreatravel #Kfood #HowToGoToKorea #GyeongjuTravel #Daereungwon #HwangnamBbang #APECGyeongju #HanokStay #KoreanFood #TraditionalKorea #KwaveDragon
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