Lotte chair widens global ties with leaders at APEC summit

Lotte Group Chair Shin Dong-bin met with political and business leaders during this week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, to discuss cooperation across the group’s core businesses and new growth engines. According to the group on Friday, Shin met with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong on Thursday to explore new avenues of cooperation in Lotte’s expanding operations in Vietnam, where the company has made substantial investments. “Lotte has invested

Enlisted K-pop star Cha Eunwoo spotted at Gyeongju APEC site

Cha Eun-woo of Astro, who is currently serving in the military, was caught on camera at one of the APEC venues in Gyeongju, according to online communities Friday. A video of Cha Eun-woo, dressed in his military uniform and walking through a hotel lobby in Gyeongju, quickly went viral Friday afternoon, surprising fans who have been waiting for his discharge. “Even with most of his face hidden under a military cap, his good looks still shine through,” one user wrote on X. “He’s promoting Korea ju

Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Samsung, Hyundai chiefs get chummy over 'chimaek'

In a rare display of camaraderie among global business titans, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun gathered for a casual dinner of Korean fried chicken and beer in Seoul on Thursday evening -- a meeting that turned heads and drew crowds. The three moguls met at around 7:30 p.m. at Kkanbu Chicken, a popular restaurant near Samseong Station on Subway Line No. 2, in the affluent Gangnam district. “Kkanbu,” a slang t

Lee, Takaichi hold 1st talks, keep shuttle diplomacy on track

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — President Lee Jae Myung and his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi, who became Japanese prime minister last week, held talks Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conferences in South Korea, continuing "shuttle diplomacy" as her predecessor had vowed. "I believe this is the time for our two nations to strengthen future-oriented cooperation more than ever before," Lee said, addressing Takaichi at the Gyeongju Hwabaek Internationa

APEC leaders vow to connect fragmented global economy

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Leaders from Thailand, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates called for closer regional cooperation and open trade at the APEC CEO Summit on Thursday, warning that protectionism could undermine Asia’s growth momentum. Vietnamese President Luong Cuong urged APEC business and policy leaders to embrace “an inclusive, cooperative and human-centered approach” to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He warned that artificial intelligence is already reshaping economies

Korea, New Zealand to strengthen strategic partnership

President Lee Jae Myung and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral summit on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to deepen cooperation across trade, defense and education as the two countries agreed to establish a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” Meeting on the sidelines of the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Lee praised New Zealand’s historic contribution during the Korean War, noting that the country “sent many troops to defend South Kor

S. Korea, Thailand to deepen ties in trade, energy, health

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday held his first face-to-face summit with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, pledging to strengthen cooperation across their economic, diplomatic and health sectors, as they met on the sidelines of the 2025 APEC Summit. The two leaders met at the Gyeongju International Media Center, where they were joined by officials including Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and national security adviser Wi

Trump's 25 hours in S. Korea

US President Donald Trump wrapped up a tightly scheduled 25-hour visit to South Korea on Thursday, departing from Busan after a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The 100-minute meeting, held at Gimhae Air Base, was their first in over six years and came amid ongoing efforts to ease trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. Trump arrived Wednesday in the historic city of Gyeongju for a one-night state visit ahead of the APEC summit. He met with South Korean Pre

Inside APEC’s buzzing media hub

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit draws global attention to Gyeongju, the city’s International Media Center has become a hive of activity, filled with the clatter of keyboards and the hum of live broadcasts in dozens of languages. Located inside the Hwabaek International Convention Center, the two-story, 6,000-square-meter facility serves as the main reporting hub for more than 3,000 journalists from local and international outlets. Built for

Digital assets redefine trust in global finance, experts say at APEC forum

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — With APEC leaders gathered in town, the Future Tech Forum put stablecoins at the center of the conversation, framing digital assets as a bridge connecting markets, people and policy. Held Thursday alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit, the forum opened under the theme “Connecting the Future of Finance.” In his opening remarks, Oh Kyung-suk, CEO of Dunamu — operator of Upbit, Korea’s largest virtual asset exchange and host of the forum’s

Takaichi visits South Korea to hold talks with Lee, Xi

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived at Gimhae International Airport in Busan on Thursday, marking her first visit to South Korea since her inauguration. Takaichi, who took office on Oct. 21, landed at 3 p.m., kicking off a three-day visit to attend a series of events related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which opens Friday in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Her schedule begins with a bilateral summit with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju, about

S. Korea, Canada broaden military info sharing with new pact

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — President Lee Jae Myung and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed to widen the scope of their bilateral defense industry cooperation through a new military information sharing pact, amid an ongoing bid for Canada's submarine procurement with a South Korean consortium among the finalists. Lee and Carney finalized the yearslong negotiations on the "Agreement on the Protection of Military and Defense Classified Information" during a summit and lunch meetin

APEC forecast to deliver $5b economic boost to Korea

South Korea is projected to reap over 7 trillion won ($5 billion) in economic gains from hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, according to industry estimates. A report from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates that the summit, currently underway in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, is expected to generate a total nationwide economic impact of 7.4 trillion won, along with nearly 24,000 new jobs. Of that total, 3.3 trillion won is attributed to short-ter

Tasty eats on Gyeongju's Hwangnidan-gil

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — On a weekday afternoon, Hwangnidan-gil in Gyeongju hums with energy. Despite a steady drizzle, tourists crowd the narrow street, umbrellas bumping lightly as they pause at food stalls and boutique shops. Once a quiet neighborhood surrounding the historic Hwangnam-dong area, Hwangnidan-gil has transformed into Gyeongju’s liveliest culinary corridor. The street is lined with renovated hanok buildings, blending old-world charm with contemporary flavors, and dur

Hyundai Motor drives global push for hydrogen economy at APEC

Hyundai Motor Group called for global collaboration to accelerate the hydrogen economy at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit 2025, held Thursday in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. During the session titled “Hydrogen, Beyond Mobility: New Energy for Society,” Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Jang Jae-hoon -- who also serves as co-chair of the Hydrogen Council, a global initiative promoting the hydrogen economy -- emphasized the strategic role of hydrogen in achieving carbon ne