South Korean police announced on Monday that nearly 20,000 officers will be deployed to ensure public safety during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the city of Gyeongju, located in the southeastern part of the country.

The police are preparing to secure the two-day summit scheduled to start on October 31, with plans to deploy 19,000 personnel, 181 patrol motorcycles, and 156 patrol cars in the city starting from October 26, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.

Oh Bo-myung, head of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency responsible for leading public safety efforts during the summit, said: “We will ensure safety through rapid response using advanced equipment.” He added, “The goal is to guarantee public safety that is unshaken by any threat.”

Oh pointed out that Gyeongju, with a population of about 244,000, is a relatively small city with narrow roads, posing security challenges. Heads of state attending the summit may have to travel some distance from airports across the country to reach it.

He said, “To prevent unexpected situations such as sudden protests and to ensure safety, we will deploy police personnel efficiently.”

Oh also noted that the police are working with the Presidential Security Service and the military to counter terrorist threats.

He continued: “In preparation for potential terrorist attacks using drones, we have taken measures for all expected scenarios, such as establishing a no-fly zone,” noting that an inter-agency counter-terrorism drill was conducted last month as part of these efforts.