About 100 days ahead of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the APEC preparatory committee chair, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, said, "The balance sheet of APEC preparations inherited by the new government is inadequate, the success is uncertain, and time is tight."
During a comprehensive inspection meeting for the 2025 APEC summit held at the Government Seoul Office, Prime Minister Kim noted, "However, we have no alternative other than success."
The meeting was attended by more than 20 government officials, local government representatives, corporations, and cultural figures, including Kim Jin-a, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Lee Seong-woo, head of the KORCHAM APEC Promotion Headquarters.
Prime Minister Kim stated, "As the APEC summit preparation chair, I want to share with the public all processes of APEC preparations in accordance with the philosophy of the national sovereignty government and President Lee Jae-myung and request the national wisdom and cooperation for success."
He continued, "Through APEC, we must demonstrate to the world the power of a democratic nation that has overcome internal strife and should make the summit a launchpad for economic recovery," adding, "We must also create an opportunity for the Korean Wave to gain further momentum."
Prime Minister Kim said, "We must inform the world that we have returned, and in doing so, we will receive great momentum for recovery both politically and economically," noting, "Just as Korea's status changed after the 1988 Olympics, this event also has significant historical meaning beyond that."
He further explained the purpose of the event, stating, "Since this is a very important moment to stabilize after a setback due to civil strife at the threshold of developed countries, we should ask for help from the entire nation, convey the current state of uncertainty as it is, and lead to success."
Prime Minister Kim suggested specific APEC preparation ideas, saying, "In Gyeongju, we can market the smiles of Silla and represent the Korean alphabet, a symbolic platform of the Korean Wave, as a prominent cultural symbol in various regions across the country."
He added, "I will look into providing souvenirs for all visitors to Korea during APEC where they can learn the Korean alphabet and Korean songs, or offering a universal and modern interpretation of representative relic explanations to Gyeongju tourists, incorporating precise kindness and strategic planning into our tourist services."