APEC CEO Summit opens in Gyeongju with high-profile welcome dinner

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won speaks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit welcome dinner reception in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of KCCI.

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, the largest business forum in the Asia-Pacific region, began with a high-profile dinner on Tuesday in the historic city of Gyeongju.

The summit, hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), gathers leaders from APEC member economies, which account for 61 percent of global GDP, alongside CEOs from the world’s most influential companies. The summit will run until Friday.

The opening event of the four-day summit set the stage for high-level dialogue on trade, innovation and sustainable growth, bringing together Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, government officials and senior executives from major conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics, SK On, Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, HD Hyundai, GS Group, POSCO Group, KB Financial Group, Korean Air, CJ Group and Naver.

U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, Peruvian Ambassador to Korea Paul Fernando Duclos Parodi, Malaysian Ambassador to Korea Dato Mohd Zamruni bin Khalid and Philippine Ambassador to Korea Bernadette Therese Fernandez also attended the event.

“This welcome dinner is a meaningful occasion for global leaders and business executives to connect, break down barriers and set the stage for friendship and partnership prior to the Summit’s main discussions,” said Park Il-jun, KCCI executive vice chairman.

“This year’s summit focuses on one-on-one meetings between global CEOs and APEC leaders to create new investment opportunities and explore practical avenues for cooperation.”

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won, second from left, and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, third from left, make a toast with guests during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit welcome dinner reception in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of KCCI

KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won welcomed the guests with his opening remarks, followed by toasts from Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Simon Kahn, chief marketing officer of Google, North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo and Park Seung-hee, president of Samsung Electronics, each wishing for a successful summit.

"Not far from this venue is Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, which served as the Silla Dynasty’s royal retreat a thousand years ago. There, kings and scholars gathered, floating cups along a stream as they exchanged poetry and ideas," Chey said.

"Today, a thousand years later, we gathered here once again. This is the ideal setting for exchanging ideas and building larger ventures together. Over the next three days, we’ll share wisdom and culture, and work in partnership. This APEC will become a multilateral platform that everyone can enjoy and make meaningful contributions to humanity."

The evening featured a standing reception with Korean cuisine highlighting regional specialties such as hanwoo (Korean beef) from Gyeongju and abalone from the East Sea, complemented by a halal and vegan menu and award-winning wines from the province.

Attendees enjoyed performances from the KBS Symphony Orchestra and the vocal quartet Forestella, which introduced the spirit of Korean rhythm through songs in Korean, English, Spanish and Italian.

Over the next three days, the summit will feature discussions under the theme “Bridge, Business, Beyond.”

On Wednesday, the Bridge sessions will focus on rebuilding connectivity and trust through economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, with K-pop juggernaut BTS member RM to make a keynote speech on the soft power of K-culture.

The third day’s sessions, Business, will center on practical implementation through innovation in fields such as artificial intelligence and next-generation energy, and the final day, Beyond, will explore new paradigms for sustainable prosperity.

Side events, such as the Future-Tech Forum, K-Tech Showcase, Taste APEC: Wine & Liquor Fair, art exhibitions and K-beauty and cultural experiences, will offer additional opportunities for networking and exchange between industry and culture.