The APEC Summit is coming to Gyeongju on October 31st. learn about key dates and issues, including the US-Korea tariff talks, Xi Jinping's visit, and the APEC CEO Summit.
table of contents
- The APEC Summit is coming to Gyeongju
- What is APEC?
- key agenda items for the meeting
- Global companies gather at the APEC CEO Summit
- FAQs
- closing thoughts
The APEC Leaders' Meeting is coming to Gyeongju
on October 31, 2025, the APEC Leaders' Meeting will be held in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. this international gathering of 21 leaders and nearly 20,000 participants from the Asia-Pacific region will discuss a wide range of issues in politics, diplomacy, economics, culture, and more.
this is the third time Korea has hosted the APEC Summit, following Seoul in 1991 and Busan in 2005, and this year's meeting is attracting worldwide attention as the U.S.-Korea, Japan-Korea, and China-Korea summits are all scheduled.
What is APEC?
APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, a regional economic organization established in 1989. There are 21 member countries, including Korea, the United States, Japan, China, Canada, Australia, and Russia.
each year, member economies hold a rotating summit, where leaders meet face-to-face to discuss economic cooperation and find ways to address regional issues. APEC members account for about 60 percent of the world's GDP and 47 percent of trade, so the outcome of the summit has a major impact on the global economy.
key agenda items at the meeting
uS-Korea tariff talks top the agenda
the biggest concern at APEC 2025 is the US-Korea tariff negotiations. Currently, Korea has pledged an investment package worth $350 billion to the US, but the two countries are at odds over how the investment should be organized.
our government favors long-term installments, while the US is demanding a lump sum cash investment. furthermore, our government has asked for a lower percentage of cash investment, which has led to a stalemate in the negotiations.
if a consensus is not reached at the Gyeongju International Conference, security-related announcements such as the revision of the U.S.-ROK nuclear agreement, the increase in defense spending sharing, and the strategic flexibility of the U.S. Forces Korea may also be postponed.
xi Jinping's visit to South Korea and the trilateral summit
chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting South Korea for the first time in 11 years. he will meet with President Lee Jae-myung for the first time, and the two leaders will discuss sensitive issues such as Taiwan, the West Sea structures, and anti-China protests in South Korea.
the outcome of the summit could have a direct impact on South Korea's economy, as China ranks first and the United States second in terms of exports.
keep an eye on the US-China summit
the meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping will also be in the spotlight, as Trump recently stated that he would reconsider his plan to impose 100% tariffs on China. With talk of a possible partial agreement between the US and China, the outcome of the meeting could reshape the global trade order.
Global companies gather at APEC CEO Summit
The APEC Leaders' Meeting is preceded by the APEC CEO Summit from October 28-31, which is the largest private economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region and attracts nearly 2,000 business leaders from around the world.
the summit is attended by many of the world's leading business leaders, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Chairman Choi Tae-won, LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Eui-sun, and HD Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Eui-sun.
the role of Korean CEOs
korean business leaders are planning to lend their support to the US-Korea tariff negotiations during APEC, with US Commerce Secretary Lattnick reportedly offering a dinner meeting to Korean business leaders during his visit.
lee Jae-yong, Choi Tae-won, Chung Eui-seon, Koo Kwang-mo, and Chairman Jung Jung-sun are expected to attend and actively share their opinions on the tariff negotiations as well as economic cooperation plans with the US.
korea-US shipbuilding cooperation project MASGA
there is also a possibility that Trump will visit major Korean shipyards during his visit to give a boost to MASGA, the US-Korea shipbuilding cooperation project. MASGA is a project that combines Korean shipbuilding technology with US defense needs and is expected to become a new model for bilateral economic cooperation.
in addition, the final high-level management meeting will be held on October 27 and 28, and the joint foreign ministerial meeting will be held on October 29 and 30.
FAQs
Q1. When and where will the APEC Summit be held?
A. It will be held on October 31, 2025 in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. the leaders of 21 member economies and about 20,000 officials are expected to attend.
Q2. What are the key issues in the US-Korea tariff negotiations?
A. How to implement the $350 billion investment package is key. South Korea wants to invest in long-term installments, while the US wants a lump sum cash investment, which has led to a stalemate in the negotiations.
Q3. What is the APEC CEO Summit?
A. It is the largest private economic forum in the Asia-Pacific region, taking place from October 28-31, with nearly 2,000 of the world's leading business leaders attending to discuss economic cooperation.
Q4. Why is President Xi Jinping visiting South Korea?
A. In his first visit to South Korea in 11 years, Xi Jinping will hold a bilateral summit with President Lee Myung-bak to discuss the Taiwan issue, West Sea structures, and bilateral issues.
Q5. What are the main agenda items to be covered at this APEC?
A. The US-Korea tariff negotiations, US-ROK nuclear agreement, defense cost sharing, US-China trade conflict, MASGA shipbuilding cooperation, and trilateral economic cooperation will be the main agenda items.
closing remarks
hosting the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju could be an important turning point for Korea's economy and diplomacy. The outcome of the US-Korea tariff negotiations, the China-Korea summit with President Xi Jinping, and investment commitments from global companies will all be decided at this meeting.
stay tuned to see how the outcome of this international conference, the world's economic forum, will affect our economy. If you enjoyed this post, please leave your thoughts in the comments, subscribe, and share it.