Jeju governor promotes resort island as perfect fit for APEC summit
Oh Young-hun, governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province / Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
Oh Young-hun, governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, said that Jeju Island is the perfect fit to host the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, stressing its unique values — carbon neutrality leadership and a sustainable future.
Next year's meeting will be the second in Korea following the 2005 summit in Busan. The resort island is competing with Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Incheon and Busan to host the annual inter-governmental forum. The summit convenes leaders from 21 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, including the United States, China and Japan, to deliberate on inclusive and sustainable growth strategies and innovative measures.
"Jeju is actively pursuing policies aligned with the values of a sustainable future," Oh highlighted, during a written interview with The Korea Times.
"Initiatives such as the 2040 Plastic Zero Project and ecological strategies aimed at safeguarding Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins all focus on harmonizing human activity with nature to address challenges including climate change."
Oh also emphasizes that Jeju's priorities align with APEC's core objective. APEC aims to foster inclusive, sustainable and innovative growth while facilitating regional economic integration to create greater prosperity for the people.
"Given that pursuing strategies for sustainable growth is a fundamental objective of APEC, Jeju's efforts in realizing these values provide a competitive edge over other candidate cities," he said.
Seongsan Ilchulbong, or sunrise peak in Jeju Island / Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government
As Jeju prioritizes sustainable growth, the island treasures its eco-friendly attractions, proudly holding UNESCO designations as an international protected area and a World Natural Heritage site.
"Jeju Island's female sea diving culture, known as haenyo, has also earned recognition as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity," Oh said.
"It is imperative for the province to underscore the significance of sustainable development and ensure the preservation of our invaluable natural heritage for future generations."
Moreover, he emphasized that the province is actively expanding trade and investment, aligning with one of APEC's goals.
Based on the Singapore office that opened last June, the province facilitates partnerships between Jeju export companies and local enterprises. It plans to expand its cooperation to Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates.
The island's robust infrastructure, including its award-winning airport facilities, is also a factor that the province promotes in its bid to host the summit.
Jeju International Airport won the prize for its efficiency in operating for seven consecutive years and it became the first in the country to secure the highest rating in the evaluation of Process Safety Management for the second consecutive time.
"Jeju's reputation for safety, coupled with its advanced traffic management systems and security protocols, ensures the seamless execution of major international events," Oh said.
Jeju Island's seas are home to about 120 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government
Furthermore, Jeju's hospitality infrastructure, including an abundance of luxury hotels and conference facilities concentrated in the Jungmun Tourist Complex, positions the island as an ideal venue for the APEC summit.
In addition to the existing facilities, Oh also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance Jeju's capacity to host major events, citing the construction of a multi-purpose complex slated for completion by August 2025.
The multi-purpose complex spans an area of 15,000 square meters, accommodating gatherings of up to 6,000 individuals and it can also host grand banquets for 2,000 guests. It is equipped to facilitate large-scale exhibitions, fairs and cultural performances, boasting space for up to 300 booths.
Oh also underscored the experiences and achievements Jeju has amassed by having successfully hosted six summits and large-scale international conferences.
"As a leading city committed to sustainable growth, we are poised to offer a distinctive experience to leaders and participants from every nation, drawing from our track record of accomplishments," he said.
Oh Young-hun, fifth from right, governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, poses with residents during a campaign for Plastic Zero. Courtesy of Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government
Above all, Jeju Island swiftly organized an academic conference to attract the APEC summit and actively promoted its candidacy.
Local support for Jeju's bid is robust, with residents actively engaging in promotional activities.
Starting with the establishment of the pan-provincial residents' promotion committee in March last year, autonomous support and endorsement from residents are ongoing.
"A total of 21,500 individuals have engaged in 256 domestic and international promotional events and activities so far," Oh said.
It is also actively promoting Jeju in metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, reaching out to the public through showcasing videos on outdoor electronic boards, bus stops and subway stations.
The island province is also using characters featuring "dolharubang," large stone statues of Jeju, and "hallabong," a type of orange that represents the island.
The endeavors of local governments to attract the APEC summit are also motivated by anticipation of significant post-summit ripple effects.
According to an analysis conducted by the Jeju Research Institute, hosting the summit on Jeju Island is projected to stimulate production to the tune of 725.6 billion won ($5.43 million) and generate employment for 7,244 individuals.
Moreover, in comparison to competitive regions such as Gyeongju and Incheon, the economic ripple effect is forecasted to be up to five times greater, attributed largely to an influx of tourists.
"Jeju is a suitable region with the values and objectives of APEC. I am confident that hosting the summit will effectively showcase Korea’s advanced standing to the world," Oh said.