SEOUL, October 02 (AJP) - This year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit arrives at a tense moment of tariff wars between allies and rivals, but host South Korea is showcasing a deft blend of diplomacy, technology and cultural soft power.
The two-day leaders’ summit, beginning Oct. 31, will cover supply chain security, digital trade rules and climate cooperation. Alongside the traditional agenda, Seoul is infusing the stage with high technology and K-pop, highlighting both its economic strengths and cultural appeal.
The official slogan of this year’s APEC is “Connect, Innovate, Prosper.” South Korea intends to spotlight trade liberalization, digital economy governance and climate action. The political centerpiece will be the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping—closely watched for any mention of shared interests, including North Korea.
Cultural diplomacy features prominently. G-Dragon, the K-pop icon, has been named envoy for the summit. The APEC Music Festa on Oct. 10 at Gyeongju Civic Stadium will feature groups such as Billlie, NCT WISH, Yena, ONF, ONEUS and WEi. Beyond K-pop, programs will showcase Korea’s heritage: the Seorabeol Pungnyu traditional performance series at historic sites, a Nam June Paik exhibition at the Wooyang Museum of Contemporary Art, Scent of Korea in Silla at the Solgeo Art Museum, and the Future Heritage Craft Exhibition.
Culture also earned a new spot on the APEC agenda. In August, Gyeongju hosted the first High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries, marking the bloc’s first formal recognition of culture as a subject of economic cooperation.
Technology is the other showpiece. The Future-Tech Forum (Oct. 27-30) will convene discussions on artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, digital transformation and retail innovation. The K-Tech Showcase will highlight advances from Korean startups, as well as Samsung, Hyundai, SK and international partners. At the APEC CEO Summit, global executives including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are slated to attend.
Still, questions remain about substance. Some critics warn that the event risks becoming more spectacle than policy. Koo Min-gyo, professor at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Public Administration, said APEC has historically had limited impact and questioned the choice of Gyeongju as venue. “Hosting an international event should be about setting the agenda and making the country’s voice heard on the international stage,” he said. “In this case, it was driven purely by domestic politics.”
reporter
Cheon Soram,
cheons@ajupress.com
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
