Korea unveils Gyeongju-inspired menu for APEC leaders’ dinner
President Lee Jae Myung proposes a toast with Horangi Draft Yuja (citron) Makgeolli at the gala dinner for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Lahan Select hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Yonhap
Gyeongju-inspired cuisine and a star-studded cultural performance were the highlights of the official welcome dinner for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting Friday, hosted by President Lee Jae Myung and the first lady Kim Hea Kyung, the presidential office said.
This highly-anticipated banquet was the peak of a series of APEC official events where the drinks served, ranging from sparkling nonalcoholic tea drinks to traditional Korean rice alcohols, demonstrated Korea's deft blend of protocol and cultural diplomacy.
Lee and his wife hosted the official dinner at the Lahan Select hotel for about 400 distinguished guests, including the heads of the 21 APEC member economies, representatives of international organizations and CEOs of multinational companies.
The presidential office said the official dinner was designed to be a meaningful event where Korean culture, technology and a commitment to cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region connected seamlessly.
Actor and singer Cha Eun-woo, who is currently serving in the military, emcees the gala dinner for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Lahan Select hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Yonhap
The banquet featured a carefully curated menu developed with the help of Korean American celebrity chef Edward Lee, aiming to show both the traditional and innovative sides of Korean cuisine.
Lee, who rose to new heights of public fame in Korea after being featured in Netflix’s hit series “Culinary Class Wars,” partnered with Lotte Hotel to create a meal that harmonized traditional Korean and Western cuisine.
The presidential office said that the menu utilized ingredients from the host city, Gyeongju, and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province, maximizing the global promotional effect for Korean food.
A dish of galbijjim (braised beef ribs) served to participants at the gala dinner event for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Lahan Select Hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Courtesy of presidential office
The meal featured Korean staples such as namul bibimbap (rice mixed with seasoned vegetables) and galbijjim (braised beef ribs) using local Gyeongju ingredients.
The appetizer featured soft tofu and persimmon in a silky sauce, breaking the common misconception that Korean cuisine is always spicy. The dish also used pine nuts and crab to represent the unity of the Pacific-rim economies at APEC.
A dessert of caramelized doenjang (fermented soybean paste) rice cakes with roasted soybean powder and roasted pine nut pie was served to participants to the gala dinner event for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Lahan Select hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Courtesy of presidential office
The dessert offerings included caramelized doenjang (fermented soybean paste) rice cakes in toasted soybean powder and pies made with roasted pine nuts, and were presented in a traditional Korean mother-of-pearl box that attendees can take home as a souvenir.
The official toasting beverage for the main leaders' banquet was Horangi Draft Yuja (citron) Makgeolli. The traditional Korean alcohol secured first-place in a contest conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in September to select drinks for the event.
The careful selection of beverages reflected Korea's effort to accommodate diverse international tastes, religious requirements and the personal preferences of the attendees.
Singer G-Dragon, right, performs during the gala dinner event for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Lahan Select hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday. Yonhap
The dinner was followed by a cultural performance emceed by actor and singer Cha Eun-woo, who is currently serving in the Korean military. The lineup for the evening included a wide range of performers, such as K-pop icon G-Dragon, dancers Honey J and Leejung, and 11-year-old violinist Kim Yu-na.
The most high-profile toast so far took place on Wednesday, during a special presidential dinner hosted by President Lee for visiting leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
Instead of using an alcoholic beverage, the banquet opened with sparkling fermented tea drink from local brand Hyo House, marking the first time the Korean government has offered tea for the main toast while hosting an international event.
President Lee Jae Myung delivers a welcome speech at a special dinner for leaders from eight countries at the Hilton Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday, and gives a toast using a sparkling nonalcoholic fermented tea drink. From the president’s right, clockwise, is Vietnamese President Luong Cuong, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and U.S. President Donald Trump. Courtesy of presidential office
The dinner introduced Korean cuisine and culture to world leaders, and was attended by the leaders of major economies, including the U.S., Singapore, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam.
For the leaders attending Thursday's banquet dinner, a premium traditional Korean rice alcohol was served to emphasize local brewing methods and history. The high-end makgeolli, named “A Night Counting Stars in the Milky Way,” was from Balhyo Gongbang 1991, a brewery in Gyeonggi Province. The makgeolli recipe was developed based on gamhyangju, a floral and aromatic style of traditional rice alcohol.
Local wines from Yeongcheon, near Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province, were chosen as official toasting beverages for the APEC CEO Summit on Tuesday. Courtesy of Yeongcheon City government
The APEC CEO Summit on Tuesday also highlighted two locally produced, award-winning wines from North Gyeongsang Province.
Ogyeri Winery’s ice wine and white wines from WE Winery, both located in Yeongcheon in North Gyeongsang Province, were selected as official beverages for the welcome dinner. The wines have been recognized globally, with Ogyeri ice wine winning a gold medal at the Berlin Wine Trophy summer tasting in 2025.
Tuesday's dinner featured Korean traditional cuisine using local specialties, such as hanwoo beef from Gyeongju and East Sea abalone, alongside halal and vegan options. Desserts included iconic Gyeongju snacks like Hwangnam-ppang, a pastry filled with sweet red bean paste.