Even approaching the area, U.S. Secret Service agents intercepted Trump's personal limousine,"The Beast," and inspected its route through the Bomun Complex.

Tight security, including special forces vehicles deployed, is in place dozens of meters away from the summit venue and a major road.

(Gyeongju = Yonhap News) Special Reporting Team ="We came here because they asked us to replace the hotel windows with bulletproof glass."

As the night of the 28th, the day before US President Donald Trump's visit to South Korea, deepens, tensions around the Gyeongju lodging where he will be staying are rising.

Security and protection also appear to be getting stronger as time goes by.

President Trump will visit Gyeongju for two days and one night on the 29th and 30th ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Hilton Hotel located in Bomun Complex, Gyeongju, on the afternoon of the 28th.

The hotel is currently home to a U.S. delegation, and President Trump is also expected to stay there for one night after his visit to South Korea.

When I returned to the hotel after the sun had set, the security and guards seemed stronger than in the morning.

Except for the large entrance door in front of the lobby, several white tents of unknown purpose were set up in front of the other entrances.

Inside the hotel, visible through the glass window, security personnel appeared to be setting up security facilities.

When I approached the workers outside the hotel and asked them,"What are you doing?", they said,"We came because we received a request to replace the hotel windows with bulletproof glass."

When asked if the windows in President Trump's guest room were being replaced, they simply replied,"We don't know anything else."

The black cars carrying the American delegation were also seen repeatedly passing through the security checkpoints set up at the hotel's entrance.

The checkpoints and search areas had been installed early, but were not in operation.

In the outdoor parking lot, there were more cars with American license plates than in the morning. Korean police SWAT vehicles were also deployed.

Security personnel, including police officers, continued to patrol the inside and outside of the hotel even after the sun had set, creating a tense atmosphere.

Earlier that morning, when approaching a U.S. security vehicle parked in an outdoor parking lot, the security guards got out and showed their wariness by saying,"Please get out."

The day before, a vehicle that appeared to be President Trump's bulletproof limousine,"The Beast," was seen moving around the Bomun Complex while checking the security route.

Access to the hotel was restricted throughout the day. Staff checked to ensure everyone entering and exiting had an"APEC-related pass" around their neck.

In front of the main entrance to the hotel lobby, a large curtain was installed that covered the entire lobby.

A hotel official said,"Currently, only Americans are staying here," and added,"We expect security to become tighter starting this afternoon."

Security is also tight around President Trump's route to the summit venue.

The hotel and the APEC summit venue, Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center (HICO), are located only a few dozen meters apart, separated by a major road.

The Korean military, police, and fire department have already launched a 'triple-layered security' operation around the hotel and summit venue.

A 3-meter-high screen and iron fence were installed on the sidewalk next to the road along the moving route to prevent people from easily approaching vehicles.

Police declared the highest level of emergency alert, 'Gapho Emergency', throughout Gyeongbuk Province, including Gyeongju.

The security and safety plans for President Trump's accommodations are kept strictly secret, but we can speculate based on the example of former US President George W. Bush, who visited South Korea during the 2005 Busan APEC.

At the time, the area around the Westin Chosun Hotel in Busan, where former President Bush was staying, was guarded by special police forces and armored vehicles, and after passing through the hotel entrance security checkpoint, the lobby was classified as a U.S. security zone.

The hotel lobby was full of security guards and security personnel, and agents were stationed at the elevator entrances and hallways on each floor.

After former President Bush left the hotel, the interior of the room and the food he enjoyed were revealed, drawing attention.

The Gyeongju Kolon Hotel, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to stay during his visit to South Korea on the 30th, was also busy with security personnel.

Police SWAT officers were also seen.

A barrier over 1 meter high was installed on both sides of the hotel's main entrance road.

A large screen was installed in front of the main entrance to the lobby, just like at the Hilton Hotel.

A red carpet was laid out at the entrance to the hotel lobby, and a separate security checkpoint was set up. The sounds of Chinese people talking could be heard here and there.

Some workers were doing the last-minute maintenance work on the large screen.

An APEC official from Gyeongju said,"Details such as the security and safety plans for the accommodations of President Trump and President Xi Jinping have not been disclosed at all, and security is being maintained thoroughly," adding,"Even APEC officials cannot easily access the interior of the hotel."

(Reporter Park Se-jin)