[CEO Summit Guide]① Four Days Until the APEC CEO Summit: Global Economic Leaders Gather in Gyeongju

APEC CEO Summit Preview
Over 1,000 Leaders Gather from the 28th to the 31st
From Finance and Currency to Carbon Neutrality, Energy, and AI
AI-Focused Keynotes at Side Events

More than 1,700 global leaders who drive the world economy will gather next week in Gyeongju, South Korea. Amid a complex web of global crises-including the US-led tariff war, the artificial intelligence (AI) supremacy battle, and supply chain restructuring-economic leaders from around the world will attend the '2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit.' Notably, this event is expected to feature both US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, offering CEOs the opportunity to engage directly with them. There are expectations that, despite ongoing trade conflicts, business leaders will urge for creative solutions to supply chain disruptions and other challenges. South Korea is being recognized for providing a platform for global economic diplomacy.

According to the business community on the 24th, the CEO Summit, which will be held for four days at the Gyeongju Arts Center starting on the 28th, will bring together top-level officials from 16 of the 21 APEC member economies and more than 1,700 CEOs from global companies. Under the theme 'Bridge, Business, Beyond'-which emphasizes connection, growth, and what lies ahead-participants will discuss the direction of the global economy at the intersection of technology, industry, and diplomacy. Key topics include regional economic integration, AI and digital transformation, sustainability, finance and investment, and bio-health, all of which are pressing issues of our time. The summit will feature a total of 20 sessions, special addresses, and speeches by heads of state, with 85 speakers participating.

Gathering of Domestic and International Leaders: What Will They Discuss?

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of SK Group. Yonhap News Agency.

The highlights of the event will be the special addresses by heads of state and the luncheon events. According to the schedule, there will be one head-of-state speech in the afternoon of the 30th and two in the afternoon of the 31st. While the schedule is flexible, there is strong speculation that President Xi will take the stage. President Trump is reported to have expressed his intention to attend the CEO Summit during his visit to South Korea. According to the White House, President Trump will not participate in the official APEC Leaders' Meeting but is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Luncheon on the 29th. The US and Chinese leaders are expected to call for cooperation in areas such as supply chains and investment in front of CEOs from around the world.

The APEC CEO Summit will open on the 28th with a private welcome dinner at Hwarang Village in Gyeongju. This event will bring together top-level officials and major business leaders from various countries for networking and exchange. The main program will officially begin on the morning of the 29th with an opening ceremony. The opening remarks will be delivered by Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of SK Group. In the first session, David Hill, CEO of Deloitte Asia-Pacific, will give a speech on 'Global Economic Issues and Challenges Ahead,' followed by a joint keynote address by Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, and Choi Sooyoun, CEO of Naver.

The morning sessions will cover multi-layered topics such as e-commerce, finance and investment, and geopolitical cooperation. Rob Porter, Chief Global Affairs Officer of Coupang, Kim Sanghyun, Head of Retail at Lotte Group, and Renaud de Barbuat, CEO of GS1, will discuss 'Digital Transformation and E-commerce Efficiency.'

In the afternoon, Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of the World Bank, will present on 'Global Finance and Investment Strategies.' Ajay Bhusan Pandey, Vice President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and Adam Posen, President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, will share their views on 'Economic Cooperation in a Geopolitical Era.' This will be followed by a keynote speech from Oh Kyungseok, CEO of Dunamu, on 'The Future of Currency and Global Capital Markets.' Cho Seok, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai Electric, and Bernhard Lorentz, Global Climate Infrastructure Leader at Deloitte, will participate in a discussion on 'Carbon Neutrality, Survival of the Planet, and Strategies for Prosperity.'

On the third day, the 30th, the summit will focus on 'Supply Chains' and 'AI.' Jang Inhwa, Chairman of POSCO Group, will present strategies for securing resources and managing risks under the theme of 'Building Resilient and Eco-friendly Global Supply Chains.' Eric Ebenstein, Head of Public Policy at TikTok, and Antony Cook, Vice President at Microsoft, will each deliver speeches on 'Developing the Digital Market' and 'Public-Private Cooperation for Responsible AI Expansion and Adoption.' In addition, tech leaders such as Simon Kahn, Vice President of Google Asia-Pacific, Yangbin Wang, CEO of Vobile, and Lee Honglak, Head of LG AI Research, will gather for the 'Next-Generation AI Roadmap for Sustainable Innovation' session to share their countries' technology innovation strategies.

On the final day, the 31st, the focus will shift to energy and healthcare cooperation. Chu Hyungwook, President of SK Innovation, Park Youngchun, Head of Digital Solutions Center at Hanwha Solutions, and Ulrich Homann, Vice President at Microsoft, will discuss 'Balancing Carbon Neutrality and Energy Security.' Joaquin Duato, Chairman of Johnson & Johnson, will deliver a speech on 'The Future of Healthcare.'

Just before the closing, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, will lead a special session to conclude the event. He will share NVIDIA's vision in various fields-including AI, robotics, digital twins, and autonomous driving-and hold a press conference.

On the 15th of last month, remodeling work was underway at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit venue located in the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center within the Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News.

Tech Leaders Present Future Visions at Future Tech Forum

Introduction image of Future Tech Forum. Screenshot from the APEC CEO Summit website.

During the CEO Summit, the APEC side event 'Future Tech Forum' will also take place in Gyeongju. The event is designed to showcase South Korea's AI capabilities and vision to the world. From the 27th to the 30th, various events will be held across Gyeongju, covering topics such as shipbuilding, defense, distribution, AI, and future energy.

On the first day, the 27th, Jeong Kisun, Chairman of HD Hyundai, will participate in the forum's keynote address, marking his first official appearance since being promoted to chairman on the 17th. In his keynote, he will introduce HD Hyundai's technologies in AI, decarbonization, and manufacturing innovation, and present a vision for global shipbuilding cooperation centered on the defense sector.

On the same day, the defense session hosted by Hanwha Group will bring together defense industry leaders to discuss new technologies, sustainable peace, and international cooperation strategies.

On the 28th, Amazon Web Services, JD.com, and GS1 will gather to deliver speeches on customer experience innovation and future retail trends. On the 29th, tech experts will convene to discuss AI, with a welcome address scheduled by Choi Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group. On the 30th, Oh Kyungseok, CEO of Dunamu, will open the session on virtual assets, followed by global finance leaders from AZA Finance, Mastercard, and other companies taking the stage.