President Lee: "APEC Voices Will Become the Melody of the Silla Flute Manpasikjeok" [Gyeongju APEC]

President Lee Jae-myung is proposing a toast at the gala dinner of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held on the 31st at Lahan Select Hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Lee Jae-myung stated at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit welcome dinner on the 31st, "The voices of APEC members will come together and be reborn as the melody of Manpasikjeok."

President Lee made this toast at the APEC Summit welcome dinner held at a hotel in Gyeongju on this day. Manpasikjeok is a flute said to have existed in the ancient Silla Kingdom. It is believed to have been played by the royal family to calm divisions and turmoil in the world and to bring peace, especially during times of national concern. President Lee said, "I am confident that this beautiful harmony will bring peace, stability, and new prosperity to the Asia-Pacific region."

President Lee also offered a toast to the attendees, centering his remarks on stories related to Silla and Gyeongju. He described Gyeongju as "the ancient capital of the thousand-year-old Silla Kingdom, where history and culture are alive and breathing," and explained, "The name 'Silla' carries the meaning of 'renewing each day and embracing all directions.'"

He continued, "Symbols of tradition such as golden crowns and Cheomseongdae Observatory firmly protect Gyeongju, while nearby Gyeongbuk is home to modern industries like steel and shipbuilding that drive the regional economy." He added, "This place, Gyeongju, symbolically represents Korea's determination to inherit the traditional legacy of APEC built by previous host countries while dynamically responding to new economic challenges."

He said, "Since ancient times, Gyeongju has flourished as a crossroads of diverse cultures and goods, nurturing its unique culture through communication with the world." He emphasized, "I believe the spirit of Gyeongju offers significant insight for APEC's future vision, which calls for shared prosperity based on respect for different cultures."

He added, "Furthermore, Gyeongju’s rich historical heritage and its development into a cultural industry will serve as an excellent example and model for the cultural and creative industries, which APEC has highlighted as a growth engine this year."