G-Dragon in a Gat and Host Cha Eunwoo Shine as Leaders Capture the Moment [Gyeongju APEC]

K-Stars Shine at the Welcome Dinner
Leaders Capture the Moment on Their Phones
A Grand Cultural Gala Show Blending Drones, Robots, and a Youth Choir
RM: "K-pop is Like Bibimbap... Connecting the World Through Harmony in Diversity"

Singer G-Dragon is performing at the welcome dinner of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held on the 31st of last month at Lahan Select Hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Photo by Yonhap News

"I got the power, the power, power up, power. I am beautiful because I am myself." (From G-Dragon's "Power")

Singer G-Dragon took the stage at the welcome dinner of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, held at a hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, on the 31st of last month, showcasing the "power" of K-pop.

Under the theme "Journey of Butterfly: Together, We Fly," G-Dragon attended as the official ambassador and performed for about 10 minutes. He sang three songs, beginning with "Power," followed by "Drama" and "Home Sweet Home."

He wore a black fedora reminiscent of the traditional Korean "gat," paired with a black outfit and a red bow tie. His look evoked the Lion Boys character from the recently popular Netflix animated film "K-Pop Demon Hunters."

As the performance began, leaders and attendees from various countries simultaneously raised their phones to record the stage. During G-Dragon's performance, President Lee Jaemyung and Chinese President Xi Jinping were caught on broadcast cameras tilting their heads together to converse.

The dinner was attended by 400 people, including President Lee and the First Lady, leaders and their spouses from 21 APEC member and invited countries who visited Korea for the summit, heads of international organizations, global CEOs, and other key domestic and international figures.

The event was hosted by singer and actor Cha Eunwoo, who is currently serving in the Ministry of National Defense's Work Support Unit. It is unusual for an active idol group member to host the APEC welcome dinner.

The gala dinner began with a performance by dancers in costumes reminiscent of the Silla Dynasty, followed by beatboxing and dance performances. During the youth choir's stage, a butterfly-shaped drone performance crossed the venue, mimicking fluttering wings.

There was also a performance in which an 11-year-old violinist, Kim Yeona, played while a quadruped robot danced. The Presidential Office explained, "We expressed the message of building a sustainable tomorrow, even in an era of growing uncertainty, through Korea's culture and technology."

Singer G-Dragon is performing at the welcome dinner of the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held on the 31st of last month at the Lahan Select Hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Actor Cha Eun-woo is hosting the welcome dinner for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit held at Lahan Select Hotel in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, on the 31st of last month. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The dinner menu was prepared by Chef Edward Lee, known for the cooking competition program "Black and White Chef." The Presidential Office described it as "a menu that combines Korea's traditional beauty with modern sensibilities." The course included vegetable bibimbap and braised short ribs using local ingredients from Gyeongju, along with pie and caramel desserts. The dishes were a combination of Korean and Western elements, and the toast was accompanied by "Tiger Yuzu Fresh Makgeolli," which won first place in the takju category at a competition hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in September.

The main APEC schedule also included a speech by BTS leader RM (real name Kim Namjoon). On the 29th of last month, he delivered a keynote address on "The Cultural Creative Industry in the APEC Region and the Soft Power of K-Culture" during the cultural session of the "2025 APEC CEO Summit" held at Gyeongju Arts Center.

RM said, "As a creator, I feel pride and anticipation seeing the cultural industry being addressed as a core agenda of APEC." He recalled, "When BTS first performed overseas more than ten years ago, we were often asked, 'Where is Korea?' There was the harsh reality that we had to explain the existence of Korea before our music."

He compared K-pop to bibimbap, saying, "K-pop embraces Western musical elements without rejecting them, while fusing Korea's unique aesthetics and emotions." He described K-pop as "a harmonious result of diverse cultural ingredients." He added, "We must ensure a work environment where the diversity of culture can be preserved and expressed."

The APEC summit promotional video featuring numerous K-pop singers garnered over 20 million views online, drawing significant attention.