APEC CEO Summit opens with Korean-style gala for global leaders

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- The 2025 APEC CEO Summit opened Tuesday night in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, with a welcome dinner that brought together about 1,000 political and business leaders from around the world. Hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Hwarang Village, the reception marked the official start of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation week, which runs through Friday under the theme “Bridge, business, beyond.” The event is Asia-Pacific’s leading

S. Korea mulls gifting royal crown replica to Trump

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- South Korea is considering gifting a replica of a historical royal crown to US President Donald Trump during his upcoming visit to the country, according to President Lee Jae Myung's office on Tuesday. An official at Lee's office said it was considering gifting a tailor-made "Gyeongju golden crown" to Trump, who will visit South Korea on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Lee and Trump are scheduled to hold talks in Gyeongju, Nort

South Korea unveils digital goods for APEC 2025

South Korea’s presidential office on Tuesday released a series of digital goods to commemorate the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which opens Friday in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. According to the office, the collection draws inspiration from traditional Korean crafts and the cultural heritage of Gyeongju, once the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 BC - AD 935). “The items were designed to reflect the normalization of South Korea’s diplomacy and to wish for th

All eyes on Gyeongju as world leaders converge for APEC 2025

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — The historical city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, is rolling out the red carpet for world leaders attending the APEC summit, which South Korea is hosting for the second time in 20 years. Leaders representing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies are set to arrive starting Wednesday, two days before the summit kicks off on Friday. Among the world leaders traveling to Gyeongju this week are US President Donald Trump and Chinese Presi

Police to respond strictly to anti-China protests during APEC summit

South Korean police have drawn up a strict response plan to deal with anti-China protests ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, warning that such demonstrations could harm the country’s diplomatic, social and economic interests as well as affect the nation’s international standing during the high-profile event. According to an internal police document obtained by Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Bu-nam, the police have established a special t

Six Silla crowns gathered together for the first time

The ancient Silla Kingdom is often called the “Golden Kingdom,” known for its gold artifacts that surpass those of Goguryeo and Baekje, the two other kingdoms of Korea's Three Kingdoms period (late 1st century BC to 7th century). Even the 9th-century Persian geographer Ibn Khordadbeh referred to Silla as a “land notably rich in gold,” and highlighted its trade routes and the goods exchanged, according to UNESCO. Silla unified the Three Kingdoms in 668, continuing its rule as the Unified Silla Ki

KTO spotlights Gyeongju’s heritage, nature and attractions

The ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom, home to a thousand years of Korean history, is set to welcome the world for APEC 2025. The Korea Tourism Organization introduced three destinations in Gyeongju themed around time, nature and experience to highlight the city’s evolving identity. Under the slogan “New Heritage Gyeongju,” the KTO showcases how the city’s deep-rooted traditions merge with contemporary culture. The OAR Contemporary Art Museum, designed by renowned architect Yoo Hyun-joon and

Retail leaders chart AI-driven, sustainable future

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- Artificial intelligence, data-driven personalization and sustainability will define the next era of global retail, industry leaders said Tuesday at the APEC Retail Future-Tech Forum in Gyeongju. Speakers from Amazon, JD.com, Lotte Shopping, Coupang and other major players said the rapid convergence of technology and consumer insight is reshaping every layer of the retail experience -- from supply chains and product design to last-mile delivery and in-store

Sinochem chairman to explore Korea ties at APEC Summit

Li Fanrong, chairman of China’s state-run chemical giant Sinochem Holdings, will visit Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit 2025 held in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from October 28 to 31. The leader of the world’s largest chemical company will join around 1,700 top executives from leading global companies and leaders from 16 APEC member economies at the four-day event. Li, born in 1963 in Jiangxi province, China, is a seasoned expert in the energy and petrochemical

Gyeongju on highest security alert for APEC summit

Preparing for the arrival of the leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies, including US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the historic city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, was transformed into a fortress on Tuesday. From the serene lakeside paths of the Bomun Tourist Complex to the bustling streets of Hwangnidan-gil, the city is now under its highest security alert — known as “gapho emergency” for this week’s APEC summit. The gapho alert is

Hanbok fashion show to illuminate Gyeongju’s Woljeonggyo

A hanbok fashion show blending Korea’s “Five Han” cultural elements — hanbok, hansik (Korean cuisine), hanok (traditional architecture), hanji (Korean mulberry paper) and Hangeul (Korean writing system) — will take place at Woljeonggyo in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday, marking the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Co-hosted by North Gyeongsang Province, the city of Gyeongju and the Korea Hanbok Promotion Institute, the event aims to showcase the beauty of traditional Kor

GS Caltex highlights sustainable energy at APEC CEO Summit

GS Caltex said Monday that it is showcasing an exhibition highlighting sustainable energy transition at the APEC CEO Summit taking place in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from Monday through Friday. Aligned with APEC’s official theme, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” GS Caltex organized its exhibition booth under three key themes — future energy, digital and artificial intelligence transformation, or DAX, and future service stations, showcasing the company’s s

AWS chief to chart AI-driven cloud future at APEC Summit

Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, is set to take the stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on Wednesday, joining a high-profile lineup of tech leaders to discuss the evolving nexus of artificial intelligence and global business. Garman will deliver a keynote speech under the theme "How AI Agents Are Reshaping Business" during a session titled “Tax Incentives and Regulatory Easing for AI Data Center Investments.” He will speak alo

CATL chief eyes deeper ties with Korean car, battery makers

Robin Zeng, founder and chair of CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, is set to accompany Chinese President Xi Jinping to this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, aiming to bolster partnerships with South Korea’s EV industry. Zeng, 57, has led CATL since founding the company in 2011. He first entered the battery business in 1999 when he co-founded Amperex Technology Limited, a maker of lithium-polymer batteries for consumer electronics, which was later ac

J&J chair to share health care tech vision at APEC summit

Joaquin Duato, chair and CEO of Johnson & Johnson, will deliver a featured speech on the future of global health care at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit 2025, set for Oct. 28-31. Scheduled to take place at Gyeongju Arts Center on the final day of the summit, Duato will speak in a session titled “The Role of Science and Technology and the Future of Health care,” which will be moderated by Monica Hardy Whaley, president of the National Center for APEC. Duato’s address will cover a