POLL APEC summit expected to elevate diplomacy, culture, but public awareness low

Visitors take pictures at a welcome booth set up by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. Yonhap

Korea’s role as host of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit has stirred a range of public expectations, reflecting both optimism on national prestige and concerns over awareness.

A recent survey commissioned by The Korea Times shows that citizens see the international gathering as a prime opportunity to bolster the nation’s global standing, especially in diplomacy and culture, although people differ in how they interpret its significance by political affiliation.

However, despite the summit’s high profile, many Koreans remain only vaguely familiar with its purpose and significance, highlighting a gap between public optimism and awareness.

Anticipating diplomatic, cultural gains

The survey, conducted Thursday and Friday via phone with 1,004 randomly selected participants aged 18 and older nationwide, found that the most common expectation was a significant boost to Korea’s diplomatic profile on the global stage, accounting for 25 percent of responses.

With APEC meetings bringing together political and business leaders from major economies across the Asia Pacific region, along with the United States, many view it as an opportunity to boost Korea’s diplomatic prestige, drawing intense global media coverage.

Another 22 percent highlighted the summit’s potential to strengthen Korea’s cultural influence, viewing it as an ideal opportunity to showcase Gyeongju’s rich historical heritage while also promoting the global reach of contemporary K-culture.

Meanwhile, 18 percent pointed to an opportunity for demonstrating democratic resilience, reflecting a sense that the event can showcase Korea’s renewed commitment to democracy following a major backslide during last year’s martial law crisis under conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

A detailed breakdown from the survey reveals a clear difference in expectations between political groups.

Among progressive respondents and supporters of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 28 percent cited diplomatic prestige as the top benefit, with promotion of Korean democracy a close second at 27 percent. This suggests that they view the summit as a platform for Korea to reaffirm its democratic values on the global stage.

In contrast, conservative respondents prioritized cultural impact, with 27 percent citing it as the main benefit, while showing less interest in democratic revitalization, which garnered only 10 percent.

The division indicates how political identity shapes public perceptions of the summit, with liberals viewing the event as a political turning point and conservatives framing it as a showcase of culture and stability.

Graphics by The Korea Times

Low public awareness

Despite optimism about the APEC meetings’ potential impact, the survey revealed a striking lack of public engagement with the event itself.

This APEC summit marks the first time in two decades that Korea is serving as host, bringing the spotlight to the country as a platform for global dialogue on trade, technology, growth and cooperation. Despite its significance, the survey underscores that understanding about the event remains limited.

When asked about their familiarity with APEC, only 41 percent of respondents said they “had heard of the APEC summit and knew it well.”

The majority of the respondents, 48 percent, said they “had heard of it but don’t know much about it,” while 11 percent reported that they were “hearing about it for the first time.”

Although political progressives, 49 percent, were more likely to identify themselves as well informed about the summit than conservatives, 38 percent, overall differences were statistically insignificant.

The lack of familiarity even among politically engaged citizens suggests that the government’s efforts to inform the public about the significance and advantages of hosting such a high-profile gathering may not have fully resonated with or reached many people.

The Korea Times commissioned the survey to gauge public sentiment. Hankook Research surveyed 1,004 adults nationwide in phone interviews on Thursday and Friday. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with a credibility rate of 95 percent. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.