Keynote Speech at CEO Summit... Korean Cuisine Dinner
"Culture Industry as a Core Engine for Future Economic Cooperation"
In July 2022, RM of BTS shared his thoughts at the appointment ceremony for the 2030 Busan World Expo ambassadors held at HYBE Entertainment in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim
Gyeongju, the host city of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, is emerging as a stage for K-Culture diplomacy.
According to the music industry on October 28, RM (Kim Namjoon), the leader of BTS, will deliver a keynote speech at an APEC side event. This marks the first time that a Hallyu artist will present a vision for the cultural industry on the official stage of a summit session.
On October 29, RM will speak for about 10 minutes at the APEC CEO Summit's cultural session under the theme "The Cultural and Creative Industries of the APEC Region and the Soft Power of K-Culture." As an artist and leader with global market experience, he is expected to highlight the creativity and economic impact of K-Culture.
BTS previously drew global attention as a leading example of soft power when they addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 on the topics of youth and self-identity. Last year, Blackpink served as ambassadors for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), and this year, Seventeen delivered a performance and message at a UNESCO youth education event. Unlike these previous appearances, the APEC stage is significant in that a K-pop leader will directly explain the influence of the cultural and creative industries to economic leaders and global CEOs.
The CEO Summit is a business forum where leaders and business executives from 21 member economies discuss innovation industries and economic trends. This year’s theme is "Beyond, Business, Bridge."
HYBE, the agency behind BTS, is the only entertainment company participating as a diamond sponsor, the highest sponsorship tier at this year’s CEO Summit. HYBE will set up a booth at the Gyeongju Arts Center, the event venue, to showcase its global business operations in the United States, Japan, China, Latin America, and India, as well as label achievements. They will also operate a cheering stick experience zone representing the K-pop fandom.
After completing their military service, BTS has begun work on a new album. On October 26 (local time), Bloomberg reported that BTS is expected to release a new album at the end of March next year and hold a world tour with a total of 64 shows, more than 30 of which are projected to take place in North America.
G-Dragon, who was appointed as an APEC Summit ambassador, is introducing Korean culture to the world through media appearances, including the promotional video "What Happened in the Parking Lot," alongside President Lee Jaemyung and IVE member Jang Wonyoung.
Chef Edward Lee, who was the runner-up on "Chef's Table: Black and White," will collaborate with chefs from Lotte Hotel to present a Korean course menu for the summit’s welcome dinner on October 31. The menu is expected to feature fusion dishes using Gyeongju’s local specialties, such as Cheonnyeon Hanwoo (premium Korean beef), East Coast flounder, and abalone. Gyeongju traditional liquor is also being considered as the dinner beverage. However, in accordance with the principle of confidentiality for heads of state, the detailed menu will be released on the day of the event.
Chef Lee was previously invited as a guest chef for the Korea-US state dinner at the White House in 2023. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ YouTube channel, he stated, "At this APEC dinner, I want to share the story of Korean cuisine and its ingredients," adding, "I will showcase the beauty that comes from pursuing innovation based on tradition."
Kim Youngsoo, Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, recently stated in a conversation with APEC youth representatives, "Culture is a key driver of national growth, and K-Culture has proven this. The government is striving to make the cultural industry a core engine for global future economic cooperation, and this APEC stage will serve as a framework for realizing that goal."
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