(Gyeongju = Yonhap News) Special Reporting Team = The '2025 APEC CEO Summit', the largest economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region and an official side event of the Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, officially opened on the 28th.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry held a welcome dinner, the first official event of the APEC CEO Summit, at the Aulmadang in Hwarang Village, Gyeongju that evening.
The event will be held for four days, starting with a welcome dinner and continuing until the 31st.
The APEC CEO Summit is an event where leaders of APEC member countries, which account for 61% of the world's GDP, and CEOs of global companies gather to discuss global agendas. This year, it is hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The banquet, held to encourage attendees who visited Gyeongju and to wish for the successful hosting of the CEO Summit main event, was attended by approximately 1,000 people, including government officials, domestic and foreign businesspeople, and diplomatic envoys.
Representatives from the government and local governments attended, including Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Director-General for Trade Negotiations Yeo Han-goo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo.
Domestic businesspeople who attended included Samsung Electronics President Park Seung-hee, SK On Vice Chairman Yoo Jeong-joon, SK Supex Chairman Lee Hyung-hee, Hyundai Motor Company President Sung Kim, LG Electronics President Ryu Jae-chul, HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Cho Suk, GS Vice Chairman Hong Soon-ki, POSCO President Lee Hee-keun, E-Mart President Han Chae-yang, Dunamu Chairman Song Chi-hyung, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power CNO Cho Seok-jin, KB Financial Group Chairman Yang Jong-hee, Korea Zinc Chairman Choi Yoon-beom, Korean Air Vice Chairman Woo Kee-hong, CJ CEO Heo Min-hoe, and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon.
Foreign ambassadors to Korea included U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, Peruvian Ambassador to Korea Paul Fernando Duclos Parodi, Malaysian Ambassador to Korea Mohamed Jamruni bin Khalid, and Philippine Ambassador to Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez.
In his opening remarks, Choi Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said,"Not far away is a place called Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. This was a royal villa and garden from the Silla Dynasty a thousand years ago." He continued,"Now, a thousand years later, we have a much larger pond and sea, and through that sea, we can float more glasses of wine and share more ideas. This is the new APEC, and what it will look like a thousand years from now."
He added,"This is a great place to exchange ideas and build bigger businesses together. Over the next three days, we will share wisdom and culture and cooperate. This APEC will become a multilateral platform that everyone can enjoy, making a true contribution to humanity."
Following this, OECD Secretary-General Matthias Coleman, Google Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Simon Kahn, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, and President Park Seung-hee offered toasts to wish for the success of the event.
At the dinner, which lasted approximately 90 minutes in a standing format, attendees enjoyed Korean food and music while interacting with key figures from each country and various industry professionals.
The dinner menu is diverse, reflecting the food and beverage cultures of each country, from traditional Korean dishes using local specialties such as Gyeongju Hanwoo and Donghae abalone to halal and vegan dishes.
Among the wines produced in Gyeongbuk Province, products that have won awards at major domestic and international competitions, such as the Berlin Wine Trophy, the Korean Liquor Competition, and the Korea Liquor Awards, were selected for the dinner.
Following the KBS Symphony Orchestra's performance, a celebratory performance was held by Forestella, a four-member domestic male pop opera group, which sang in various languages.
The APEC CEO Summit will begin with a welcome dinner on the 29th, followed by an opening ceremony, and will run until the 31st under the theme of 'Bridge, Business, Beyond (3B).'
On the 29th, the forum will focus on"Bridge," discussing ways to restore connectivity and trust, including economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. On the 30th, the forum will focus on"Business," exploring concrete implementation plans through innovation in areas like AI and next-generation energy. The final day, the 31st, will focus on"Beyond," exploring a paradigm for sustainable prosperity.
Various side events will also be held. At the"Future Tech Forum," held from the 27th to the 30th, global leaders will discuss feasible cooperation plans focusing on six future industries, including AI, eco-friendly shipbuilding, and the defense industry.
Through the 'K-Tech Showcase' held from the 28th to the 31st, we will showcase the innovative technologies of domestic companies to the world and connect them with investments and partnerships.
In addition, a comprehensive exchange platform combining industry and culture will be established with various programs such as a wine and traditional liquor fair, K-art exhibition, and beauty and wellness experiences.
Park Il-joon, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said,"This welcome dinner is a meaningful opportunity for key figures and businesspeople from each country to build friendships and partnerships ahead of the summit's main meeting," adding,"I hope that this year's summit, which focuses on one-on-one meetings with global CEOs and APEC leaders, will create various investment opportunities and explore practical cooperation plans."
