Companies Embrace 'APEC Cooperation'... "Let's Showcase Korea's Economic Development DNA and Innovation Capabilities"

Leading companies in South Korea are joining forces in earnest to ensure the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which is just nine months away.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held the "2025 APEC CEO Summit Promotion Committee Launch Ceremony" on the morning of the 23rd at the KCCI Hall on Namdaemun-ro, Seoul.

The Promotion Committee plans to support business events at the APEC Summit to be held in Gyeongju this October. Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and SK Group, who is also the Chair of the APEC CEO Summit, will serve as the Promotion Committee Chair, with other companies participating as executive members.

At the launch ceremony, 20 people attended including Chairman Choi Tae-won, Jo Hyun-sang, Vice Chairman of HS Hyosung and Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Park Seung-hee, President of Samsung Electronics, Lee Hyung-hee, Chair of SK Supex Communication, Kim Dong-wook, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Company, Ryu Jae-chul, President of LG Electronics, Lee Gye-in, CEO and President of POSCO International, Lim Sung-bok, Vice President of Lotte Holdings, Lee Tae-gil, President of Hanwha, Kim Tae-jin, President of GS Engineering & Construction, Han Chae-yang, CEO of E-Mart, Woo Ki-hong, Vice Chairman of Korean Air, Lee Joo-wan, Chairman of Megazone Cloud, Ahn Sung-hoon, CEO of HS Hyosung, Han Moon-hee, President of Korail, Seo Young-chung, Acting President of Korea Tourism Organization, and Park Il-jun, Executive Vice Chairman of KCCI. Government officials included Minister Ahn Deok-geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Yang Geum-hee, Economic Deputy Governor of Gyeongbuk Provincial Government.

A plaque unveiling ceremony was also held in the lobby of the KCCI Hall. When attendees pressed a button, the curtain was drawn back to reveal the Promotion Committee plaque engraved with the "2025 APEC CEO Summit" logo. The logo represents the 3B theme of this year’s APEC CEO Summit: "Beyond Business Bridge." It embodies the vision to go beyond boundaries (Beyond), engage in innovative business activities (Business), and build new cooperative relationships (Bridge).

Prior to the plaque unveiling, a briefing session was held to share the current status of preparations for the APEC CEO Summit and discuss the committee’s operational plans. To differentiate from previous events, KCCI announced plans to extend the duration of the APEC CEO Summit and invite a large number of star-level speakers. Each company’s network will be fully mobilized to attract global CEOs.

The attending business leaders wore APEC cooperation badges and pledged active cooperation and support, stating, "The Gyeongju APEC is not only expected to generate billions in economic benefits but also serves as an opportunity for South Korea to once again take center stage on the global stage and showcase the country’s resilience to the world." KCCI explained, "The APEC badge was designed with the motif of people linking arms and the Cheomseongdae Observatory," adding, "It symbolizes the determination to lead the success of APEC business events through everyone’s cooperation while promoting South Korea’s economic development DNA and innovation capabilities to the world."

Park Il-jun, Executive Vice Chairman of KCCI and Executive Chair of the Private Committee, said, "The Gyeongju APEC business event will become a global cooperation platform where heads of state and global business leaders can directly experience and invest in our advanced industries and technologies." He added, "The private committee, government, and local governments will work as one team to make this year’s Gyeongju APEC the most successful event ever."