The 2025 Gyeongju Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit, the largest economic forum in the Asia-Pacific, kicked off with a welcome dinner.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry held the first official event of the APEC CEO Summit, a welcome dinner, on the evening of the 28th at the Hwarang Village Eoulmadang in Gyeongju. About 1,000 people, including government and National Assembly officials, businesspeople from Korea and abroad, and diplomatic envoys, attended.
Chair Chey Tae-won, KORCHAM chair and SK Group chair, introduced Donggung and Wolji, a royal villa and garden from the Silla period, in his greeting and suggested that participants broadly network and exchange ideas.
Chey said, "Donggung and Wolji was a place where kings and scholars gathered, floated cups along a stream, traded poems, and exchanged ideas," adding, "Since we have a much larger pond than 1,000 years ago—the sea—we can float more cups and share more ideas."
The APEC CEO Summit brings together leaders of APEC member economies and corporate CEOs to discuss global agendas, representing 61% of the world's GDP, and this year it is organized by KORCHAM.
The welcome dinner was arranged to encourage attendees visiting Gyeongju and to wish for the successful hosting of the CEO Summit's main event.
From the government and local authorities, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) Trade Negotiations Head Yeo Han-koo, and North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo attended.
From domestic corporations, Samsung Electronics President Park Seung-hee, SK On Vice Chair Yoo Jeong-joon, SK Supex Council Communications Chair Lee Hyeong-hee, Hyundai Motor President Seong Kim, LG Electronics President Ryu Jae-cheol, HD Hyundai Vice Chair Cho Seok, GS Vice Chair Hong Soon-ki, POSCO President Lee Hee-geun, Emart President Han Chae-yang, Dunamu Chair Song Chi-hyung, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) CNO Jo Seok-jin, KB Financial Group Chair Yang Jong-hee, Korea Zinc Chair Choi Yoon-beom, Korean Air Vice Chair Woo Kee-Hong, CJ CEO Heo Min-hei, and Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon attended.
Foreign envoys in Korea included U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, Peru's Ambassador to Korea Paul Fernando Douclós Parodi, Malaysia's Ambassador to Korea Mohamed Zamruni bin Khalid, and the Philippines' Ambassador to Korea Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Mathias Cormann and Google CMO Simon Kahn were also present.
Held standing for about 90 minutes, the dinner offered Korean food and music as attendees had broad exchanges with key figures from various countries and stakeholders across industries.
The dinner menu reflected diverse culinary cultures, ranging from traditional Korean dishes using local specialties such as Gyeongju premium Korean beef, known as hanwoo, and East Sea abalone to halal and vegan options. The dinner wine was selected from North Gyeongsang-produced wines that have won at major domestic and international competitions such as the Berlin Wine Trophy, the Our Liquor Awards, and the Korea Alcoholic Beverage Awards.
The APEC CEO Summit runs through the 31st. Starting with the welcome dinner and the opening ceremony on the 29th, official programs will proceed in earnest under the theme "Bridge, Business, Beyond (3B)."
On the 29th, discussions will focus on "Bridge," including consolidation and the restoration of trust such as economic cooperation measures in the Asia-Pacific region. On the 30th, under the theme "Business," concrete execution plans through innovation, including AI and next-generation energy, will be addressed. On the final day, the 31st, the focus will be on "Beyond," exploring a paradigm for sustainable prosperity.
Various side events will also take place. At the Future Tech Forum, held from the 27th to the 30th, global leaders will discuss actionable cooperation plans centered on six future industries, including AI, eco-friendly shipbuilding, and defense. At the K-Tech Showcase, held from the 28th to the 31st, domestic corporations will present a range of innovative technologies. In addition, a wine and traditional liquor fair, a K-art exhibition, and beauty and wellness experiences will also be held.
KORCHAM Executive Vice Chair Park Il-jun said, "This welcome dinner is a meaningful occasion where key figures and businesspeople from each country gather in one place to build friendship ahead of the summit's full-fledged discussions," adding, "We expect to create diverse investment opportunities and seek practical cooperation measures at this summit, which emphasizes one-on-one meetings with global CEOs and APEC leaders."