[Gyeongju APEC] APEC CEO Summit Opens... Choi Taewon: "Let's Discuss Solidarity and Cooperation Amid Division"

"Welcome to the Thousand-Year City of Gyeongju"
President Lee Jaemyung Opens with Keynote Speech
Global Leaders Including President Trump Join the Stage
Over 1,700 Attendees, the Largest Gathering Ever

The '2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit,' which brings together global leaders from around the world, officially kicked off in Gyeongju on the 29th. The event began with a special keynote speech by President Lee Jaemyung, followed by appearances from heads of state such as U.S. President Donald Trump and business leaders. Choi Taewon, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chair of the CEO Summit, opened the event by welcoming attendees, saying, "Welcome to Gyeongju, a city with a thousand-year history."

In his opening address at the CEO Summit that morning, Chairman Choi stated, "A thousand years ago, this place-Gyeongju-was the Silicon Valley of the East," adding, "Today, we are seeking the wisdom and legacy of Gyeongju as we chart a new path for a new era." He went on to explain, "At this moment, we are facing various challenges such as supply chain restructuring, competition in artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies, and the climate crisis," and noted that solutions to these issues would be discussed at this CEO Summit.

He then introduced this year's CEO Summit theme, '3B (Bridge, Business, Bond).' Chairman Choi emphasized, "These are the values that APEC member countries and companies should pursue together in this era of transformation," and added, "We will discuss solidarity and cooperation in a divided world." He stressed the importance of achieving trade, investment, and technological cooperation among member countries based on trust and collaboration.

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of SK Group, delivers the opening address at the 'APEC CEO Summit' held on the 29th at the Gyeongju Arts Center in Gyeongbuk. Photo by Joint Press Corps.

He also highlighted that on the second day, topics such as 'Digital, Financial, and Energy Transformation' would be discussed, and on the third day, 'Bond,' with a focus on exploring innovation, green growth, and a sustainable future. In closing, Chairman Choi expressed his hope that "this special gathering in Gyeongju will mark the beginning of new connections and serve as a starting point for solidarity toward a sustainable future."

The opening ceremony of the CEO Summit, held at the Hwarang Hall of the Gyeongju Arts Center, was attended by President Lee Jaemyung, the heads of major domestic conglomerates, global business leaders, and experts, making for a grand event. Among the Korean business leaders present were Lee Jaeyong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics; Chung Euisun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company; Koo Kwangmo, Chairman of LG; Shin Dongbin, Chairman of Lotte; Jang Inhwa, Chairman of POSCO Holdings; and Chung Kisun, Chairman of HD Hyundai, among others. Global business leaders in attendance included Kevin Xu, Chairman of MEBO Group; David Hill, CEO of Deloitte; Simon Kahn, Vice President of Google Asia-Pacific (APAC); Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS); and Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup.

In addition, leaders of economic organizations such as Ryu Jin, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries; Sohn Kyungshik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation; Yoon Jinsik, Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association; Kim Kimon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs; and James Kim, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM), were also present.

Marking its 30th year, this year's CEO Summit is the largest ever in terms of sessions, speakers, and the number of participating dignitaries. Over 1,700 global business leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific countries and beyond are attending. During the event, many global CEOs from companies such as Nvidia, Microsoft (MS), Meta, and TikTok are scheduled to visit Korea, and more than 70 speakers will deliver speeches and participate in discussions across 20 sessions, focusing on key topics such as AI and semiconductors, carbon neutrality, regional economic integration, and finance and biotechnology.

The highlight of this event is the networking among heads of state and business leaders. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry is arranging one-on-one behind-the-scenes meetings among participants, including a welcome dinner held the previous night at Hwarang Village in Gyeongju. In particular, with major figures from the big tech sector gathered in one place, attention is focused on whether investment and cooperation in AI and semiconductors will be discussed.

The plenary session, which begins that morning, will feature speeches on the theme of 'Bridge.' As APEC emphasizes the connection and cooperation between governments and businesses, foreign leaders will also take the stage for special sessions at the CEO Summit. U.S. President Trump will be the first speaker of the morning, followed by Chilean President Gabriel Boric, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Among the business leaders participating that day, CEO Garman, Choi Sooyoun, CEO of Naver, and Simon Milner, Vice President of Public Policy for Meta Asia-Pacific, will join a discussion on 'Investment Incentives and Regulatory Easing for AI Data Centers.' In addition, Kim Sanghyun, Head of Distribution at Lotte Group; Oh Kyungseok, CEO of Dunamu; and Cho Seok, Vice Chairman of HD Hyundai, are also scheduled to take the stage.

Park Iljun, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated, "We expect that this event will firmly establish Korea's position as a key partner in global economic cooperation," and added, "We hope this summit will serve as a turning point where the wisdom and technology of each country are exchanged, especially in advanced industries such as AI, and new possibilities are explored."