By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, together with the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization, hosted ambassadors from seven Arab countries in Korea for a two-day ‘Silla-Arab Silk Road Familiarization Tour’ in Pohang and Gyeongju.

The Fam tour was attended by seven ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Morocco, and Tunisia, along with two spouses and five officials from the Korea-Arab Society.

The ambassadors toured industrial facilities such as POSCO Headquarters and Wolseong Nuclear Power Headquarters, as well as major Silla Dynasty sites such as Gyeongju Donggung Palace, Wolji, the Tomb of King Wonseong, and Bulguksa Temple.

The province also introduced its tourism resources and preparations to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju this fall.

"The ties between Silla and Arab through the Silk Road continue to this day, and we will build closer ties through this tour," said Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Chul-woo. "We will further expand international exchange and cooperation so that Gyeongsangbuk-do can become a global cultural and tourism hub on the occasion of the 2025 APEC Summit."

The group also visited the headquarters of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant to learn about the country's nuclear power and energy industry capabilities.

In the evening, the group attended an official dinner hosted by Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Chul-woo at the Hilton Hotel in Gyeongju.

During the dinner, a presentation was given on Gyeongbuk's tourism resources and preparations to host the 2025 APEC Summit.

The Fam Tour was a follow-up to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in the field of culture and tourism signed between the Gyeongbuk Culture and Tourism Organization and the Korea-Arab Society last December.

Gyeongbuk Province plans to hold joint cultural events and develop tourism products with Arab countries in the future.