About APEC 2025 KOREA

First Senior Officials’ Meeting of APEC 2025 Successfully Held in Gyeongju   1. From February 24 to March 9, the First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) and related meetings of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2025 were successfully held in Gyeongju, Korea, led by APEC SOM Chair Yoon Seongmee. The Korean government, this year’s APEC host economy, proposed “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cooperation” and “Response to Demographic Changes in the Asia-Pacific Region” as key deliverables.   ※ APEC is the largest economic cooperation forum in the Asia-Pacific region, comprising 21 member economies including Korea, China, Japan, the Russian Federation and the United States.   ※ The Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) serves as APEC’s high-level consultative body for discussions among its member economies on cooperation agendas. It is held four times and once annually in the form of formal and informal meetings, respectively, with their outcomes reported at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and Ministerial Meeting.   - Korea was represented by Lee Jiyoon, Deputy Director-General for International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in her capacity as Senior Official.   2. At the first official APEC event of 2025, Korea outlined two key deliverables for APEC-wide cooperation this year -- “AI Cooperation” and “Response to Demographic Changes” including challenges such as declining birth rates and aging populations.   3. Regarding AI, Korea proposed guiding principles to harness the limitless potential of AI in an inclusive and sustainable manner. With respect to demographic changes, Korea presented collaborative initiatives through which to turn demographic challenges into opportunities. Member economies welcomed these priorities, recognizing them as timely and relevant since these challenges are faced across the Asia-Pacific region. In that light, they expressed their strong interest in and support for Korea’s initiatives.   4. This event in Gyeongju consisted of a total of 24 meetings, including SOM1 (March 8-9); meetings of the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI), the SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE), the Budget and Management Committee (BMC), and the Economic Committee (EC); and various sub-fora meetings. An APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting was also convened. These meetings brought together approximately 2,000 participants, including delegations from all 21 APEC member economies and the APEC Secretariat.   5. Throughout the meetings held over two weeks, APEC members discussed concrete initiatives and action plans to achieve this year’s theme and priorities -- “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper” -- followed by a comprehensive review at SOM1 on the last two days of the event.   6. On the sidelines of the multilateral meetings, SOM Chair Yoon Seongmee and Senior Official Lee Jiyoon held bilateral meetings with senior officials from Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and the United States. During the bilateral meetings, these member economies expressed strong support for Korea’s theme, priorities and key deliverables, as well as high expectations for Korea’s leadership as the host of APEC 2025 amid the rapidly evolving global dynamics of late.   7. Additionally, Korea held a “Troika” meeting with Peru and China, the previous and next APEC host economies, respectively, during which the three sides agreed to work closely together for a successful implementation of this year’s agenda and a continuity in APEC’s long-term efforts.   8. SOM1 also served as an opportunity to introduce to APEC members Gyeongju, the host city for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the second half of 2025. Participants praised the conference facilities, the progress in the preparation efforts, the seamless organization, and the hospitality provided for delegations. Gyeongju’s rich historical and cultural heritage also received high appreciation.   9. Looking ahead, Korea will hold SOM2 in Jeju (May) and SOM3 in Incheon (July-August) as well as 11 sectoral ministerial meetings and 2 high-level dialogues covering ocean-related affairs, human resources, education and trade, between those two SOMs. APEC 2025 will wrap up with the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in the second half of the year.

1. The official website for APEC 2025 KOREA was launched on February 20, 2025, ahead of the First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1), which will take place in Gyeongju from February 24 to March 9.   2. The website (www.apec2025.kr) features an introduction to APEC as well as the theme and priorities of APEC 2025 KOREA, relevant notices, and information on its host cities including Gyeongju, Jeju, Incheon and Busan. It will serve as a key platform for sharing information on SOMs and sectoral ministerial meetings to be held across the country in preparation for the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM).   3. Following SOM1, official social media channels will also be launched to provide diverse and relevant information, including details on interactive events designed to encourage public participation.   4. With the launch of the website, the Preparatory Office for APEC 2025 aims to provide timely and accurate information about APEC 2025 KOREA, ensuring that it becomes an event that actively involves and engages the public.

- The first meeting presided over by Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as the Minister of Economy and Finance, reviewed the current preparation status and discussed future plans for APEC 2025 KOREA. - - Acting President Choi urged ministries, provincial governments, and businesses to cooperate and coordinate as one team to ensure timely and successful preparation. –   1. The fifth meeting of the Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee, chaired by Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as the Minister of Economy and Finance, was held in the Government Complex Seoul at 14:00 on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.   ※ The “Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee” was established in accordance with the "Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the Organizing Committee and Preparatory Office for APEC 2025 (Presidential Decree No. 459, which took effect on August 17, 2023).“   ※ The Committee serves as a major decision-making body, reviewing plans and other key matters pertaining to the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) and other related meetings.   2. Today’s meeting, presided over by Acting President Choi Sang-mok for the first time, discussed and reviewed the current preparation status and future plans for the AELM's infrastructure, business events, cultural programs, etc.   3. The Acting President emphasized that the APEC 2025 KOREA provides an important opportunity to witness Korea’s elevated international standing and strengthen the trust and support of the global community, as it is one of the largest multilateral diplomatic events hosted in Korea since the G20 Summit in 2010 and the Nuclear Security Summit in 2012.   4. Acting President Choi further urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, other relevant ministries, provincial governments, and businesses to communicate and collaborate closely, ensuring the timely and speedy preparations for the AELM and related meetings in the remaining time while maintaining readiness in the face of any domestic or international challenges.   5. The participants underscored the necessity of seamless preparations for key infrastructure, such as meeting venues and accommodations, as well as the participation of leaders of major economies and prominent global business leaders. The participants also agreed to work in close coordination to ensure the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC KOREA.   6. Meanwhile, Korea took its first step as the host economy by successfully hosting the Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) in Seoul last December. This year, alongside the AELM in Gyeongju, around 200 meetings at various levels and across diverse sectors will be held nationwide. During the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week (AELW), the CEO Summit and the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) meeting, featuring leading global business leaders, will also take place.   ※ Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOMs) and sectoral ministerial meetings will be held in Gyeongju (from February to March), Busan (in April and August), Jeju (in May), and Incheon (from July to August), leading up to the AELW, during which the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSOM), the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM), the AELM, and business events will be held.   7. Acting President Choi Sang-mok stressed the significance of business events in facilitating meaningful business networks for domestic companies. He further called for active engagement from the private sector, particularly recognizing the leadership of Chairman Chey Tae-won of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and Vice Chairman Cho Hyun-sang of HS Hyosung Group in leading the relevant events.   8. Building on the outcome of today’s meeting, the government will carry out meticulous preparations for the AELM, which will be hosted for the first time in 20 years in Korea, to ensure that it becomes a magnificent economic and cultural event, driving regional economic cooperation while highlighting Korea’s outstanding culture on the global stage.

1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul (Co-head of the Preparatory Office for APEC 2025), Gyeongsangbuk-do Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, and Gyeongju City Mayor Joo Nak-young signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City for cooperation on preparation for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (2025 AELM) on January 22, 2025, at the Government Complex Seoul Annex.   2. By signing the MOU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the provincial and municipal governments hosting the 2025 AELM (Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City) showed their commitment to reinforce their cooperation framework for the successful preparations for the 2025 AELM. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation on all other relevant matters such as building urban environment and necessary facilities like meeting venues and  accommodations, and establishing and implementing measures regarding media and transportation.   3. Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul emphasized the importance of seamless and efficient cooperation among the central and provincial and municipal governments as a critical factor for the success of the 2025 AELM. On that note, he reaffirmed his commitment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-head of the Preparatory Office to sparing no efforts to contribute for the success of the event.   4. Gyeongsangbuk-do Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, calling the 2025 APEC the most significant event to take place in his province, assured that relevant organizations have been closely cooperating. He went on to express his confidence that the signing of the MOU would mark a significant milestone toward enhancing collaboration and elevating the overall quality of the AELM.   5. Gyeongju City Mayor Joo Nak-young highlighted the efforts made in preparing essential elements through multiple site inspections by relevant Ministries and stressed that it is now time to develop a detailed and strategic action plan to further refine the specific support measures for each of those elements. Mayor Joo pledged that the city will make sure that all AELM infrastructure is world-class, and will put in its utmost efforts to ensure that the host city seamlessly makes preparations to offer all necessary support.   6. With the preparation plan for the 2025 AELM agreed upon in their MOU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City will continue to communicate and work closely together for the success of the event. To that end, they will devise concrete and substantive plans as well as their implementation measures.