APEC 2025 highlights S. Korea as global connector

The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit closed Saturday in the historic southeastern city of Gyeongju, marking a defining moment for South Korea’s global leadership two decades after it last chaired the forum in Busan. With the adoption of the landmark “Gyeongju Declaration” and unprecedented agreements on artificial intelligence, trade and regional cooperation, the summit highlighted Seoul’s growing diplomatic stature as a bridge among major powers navigating an increasingly fragmente

Walking through Yangdong Village, where time appears to stand still

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Nestled 16 kilometers northeast of Gyeongju, Yangdong Village offers visitors a glimpse into the past where tiled-roof hanok, thatched cottages and the rhythm of Confucian life remain preserved amid the hum of the 21st century. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, Yangdong is not a museum but a living community, home mainly to descendants of the Wolseong Son and Yeogang Yi clans. The village unfolds along Hyeongsan River on the Angang plain, a

Lee, Xi agree to reboot high-level dialogue, turn thaw into economic gains

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — The leaders of South Korea and China agreed Saturday to reboot a regular high-level dialogue to strengthen strategic coordination on regional and global issues, pledging to turn their thaw into tangible economic cooperation and work toward peace on the Korean Peninsula, Seoul’s presidential office said. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a 100-minute, in-person summit Saturday — their first since Lee took office — on t

Lee, Xi seal W70tr FX swap in Korea–China reset

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — South Korea and China agreed Saturday to expand cooperation across trade, finance and emerging industries, marking a reset in bilateral ties strained by geopolitical tension and supply chain realignment. During a 95-minute summit at the Gyeongju National Museum, President Lee Jae Myung and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of seven memorandums of understanding, including the extension of a currency swap deal. The Korean president said the tw

Lee gifts Xi with Go table, lacquerware

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday gifted a Go table and lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl to China's President Xi Jinping, who was in the country for the first time in 11 years. Xi, who arrived on a state visit to South Korea on Thursday, coinciding with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conferences in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, received a 9-centimeter-high, 1,978 square-centimiter-large wooden Go table made of torreya wood, with each s

Lee says role of US, China important to peninsular peace

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the pivotal roles of the US and China in achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula, as he was closing this week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Speaking at a news conference Saturday in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, just after the conclusion of the two-day APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Lee said that Pyongyang’s hostile actions and provocations largely reflect its desire for security guarante

AI dominates discussions at APEC

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — Artificial intelligence dominated the 2025 APEC CEO Summit as the overriding theme in conversations across energy, health care, infrastructure and governance. During the four days of the event held in Gyeongju, world leaders and business chiefs cast AI as the foundation of a new global economy, examining its requirements, from chip production to data center power, and the questions it poses for ethics and cross-border rules. The event also served to cast lig

Xi announces Shenzhen as host city for APEC 2026 summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday emphasized China’s commitment to multilateral cooperation, announcing that the venue of the next APEC summit would be Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Xi made the announcement during the chair handover ceremony at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang province. Xi added that while Shenzhen had been a fishing village only a decade ago, the city has transformed into a modern, internation

APEC leaders wear hanbok-inspired scarves for group photo

Leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation posed for a group photo on Saturday after the summit’s second session, donning scarves inspired by the traditional Korean hanbok. According to the presidential office, the scarves' design combines the traditional beauty of Korea with the geometric aesthetics of Hangeul, the Korean writing system. The presidential office further explained that the turquoise hue of the scarf draws inspiration from the phrase "semosi oksaek chima" — meaning

Lee vows to sustain proactive initiatives to foster peace with North Korea

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province — President Lee Jae Myung, in his closing remarks at the APEC summit on Saturday, vowed to continue measures toward peace with North Korea, emphasizing South Korea’s commitment to stability and dialogue on the Korean Peninsula. Noting that military confrontation, escalating tensions, and nuclear issues were undermining stability and cooperation not only on the Korean Peninsula but across the Asia-Pacific region, Lee said that under the principle of resolving i

G-Dragon, Cha Eun-woo light up APEC 2025 gala dinner in Gyeongju

K-pop icons G-Dragon and Cha Eun-woo added star power to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit’s gala dinner in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Friday, captivating global leaders and delegates gathered at the event. The dinner, hosted at Lahan Select Hotel’s grand ballroom, opened with Cha Eun-woo, a South Korean singer and actor currently serving in the military, who stepped out of uniform to host the evening in fluent English. “I never imagined I would be here as an emcee in front

Lee urges APEC to embrace AI-driven big changes as opportunity

President Lee Jae Myung on Saturday urged the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies to embrace big changes driven by artificial intelligence as an opportunity to contribute to inclusive economic growth. Lee introduced South Korea's initiative, titled "AI-Based Society for All," during the Retreat Session of the APEC summit in the southeastern city of Gyeongju. "The Republic of Korea envisions a global AI society where people around the world can equally enjoy the benefits of

[Q&A] From Samsung, SK hynix to Huawei: Nvidia CEO talks physical AI, partnerships and perseverance

GYEONGJU, North Gyeongsang Province -- After announcing a landmark deal to supply 260,000 graphics processing units to South Korea, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang faced the press in Gyeongju on Friday evening for a candid media session -- pausing between questions for sips of Coke, ice cream and a Korean chocolate snack to keep his energy up after a long day. During the hour-and-a-half-long session Huang reiterated the importance of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix as “incredible partners,” that their

G-Dragon, K-pop dancers, 11-year-old violin prodigy grace APEC gala dinner

Against the majestic surroundings and nocturnal splendors of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, K-pop superstar G-Dragon, along with other cultural figures, graced the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting Gala Dinner on Friday night with a special showcase of Korea's culture. Following the dinner hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung at the Lahan Select Hotel in Sinpyeong-dong, a gala show titled "Journey of Butterfly: Together, We Fly" took the baton. The show

Lee hosts APEC gala dinner

To wrap up the first day of the world leaders’ meeting for the APEC summit in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, President Lee Jae Myung hosted a gala dinner on Friday evening, welcoming key figures to the two-day event at the Lahan Select Gyeongju Hotel. The event brought together leaders from 21 APEC member economies, including President Xi Jinping from China, as well as key business figures like Samsung Electronics Chair Lee Jae-yong. Other invited guests included the managing director of t