From stage to diplomacy: G-Dragon and Cha Eun-woo steal the show at APEC summit gala
G-Dragon, left, and Cha Eun-woo / Captured from G-Dragon's social media, Yonhap
K-pop icons G-Dragon and Cha Eun-woo stole the spotlight at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting gala in Gyeongju, Oct. 31, blending diplomacy, culture, and star power in a way that left both Korean fans and foreign dignitaries buzzing.
The event, held in the Lahan Hotel’s grand ballroom, featured G-Dragon as the only K-pop artist invited to perform at the high-profile dinner attended by heads of state and global executives. Wearing a traditional Korean gat (bamboo hat), the singer-producer took the stage with dynamic live renditions of his hits “Power” and “Home Sweet Home,” commanding the room with his signature charisma.
G-Dragon / Yonhap
As G-Dragon introduced himself as “the APEC 2025 Korea Ambassador,” the audience — including several world leaders — could be seen filming the performance on their phones and swaying to the beat.
Shortly after the show, he shared a behind-the-scenes post on his secondary social media account, captioned “Oh my gat, the real one has arrived,” alongside photos of him in the hat — a playful pun that quickly went viral among Korean netizens.
G-Dragon / Captured from G-Dragon's social media
Fans were equally captivated by a follow-up clip showing G-Dragon relaxing aboard a private jet, exclaiming “A-pec!” in a childlike tone as he appeared to be heading abroad after the performance. Online communities exploded with comments like “The gat look is Saja Boys, the jet is Huntrix — he’s the perfect ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’” referencing the animated film.
Adding to the star-studded evening, actor and singer Cha Eun-woo, who recently became the talk of social media as the “real-life Jinu” from KPop Demon Hunters, served as the emcee of the gala.
Cha Eun-woo / Yonhap
Currently serving in the military band under the Ministry of National Defense since his enlistment in July, Cha Eun-woo was chosen to represent K-culture in front of global leaders. “I never imagined I’d stand here as the host of such an event,” he said in Korean before smoothly switching to English to lead the proceedings.
The dinner also featured a violin performance of KPop Demon Hunters’ original soundtrack song "Golden," symbolizing the growing influence of Korean pop culture on the world stage.
As clips of G-Dragon’s theatrical performance and Cha Eun-woo’s poised hosting spread across social media, fans praised the moment as a “perfect display of Hallyu pride.”
This article from Xportsnews is adapted by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.