제 28 호 APEC 2025 in Gyeongju
- 작성일 2025-12-09
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APEC 2025 in Gyeongju
By Ji-WonChoi, Reporter
그림 1APEC Gyeongju Commemorative Photo
The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit was held on October 31 in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Leaders from major member economies, including South Korea, the United States, China, Japan, and Australia, attended the meeting, which took place over three days from October 31 to November 2 to discuss key economic issues.
Held amid a complex global economic environment—marked by a slowdown in global growth, supply chain restructuring, and intensifying technological competition—the summit drew significant international attention. The theme of the 2025 meeting was “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.”
As protectionist policies led by the United States continue to spread worldwide, prioritizing national interests over international cooperation, the Gyeongju APEC Summit drew attention as a potential venue to forge new avenues for collaboration—or, conversely, to reaffirm the deepening divides among member economies.
APEC Definition
APEC, or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is a regional forum established to facilitate smooth policy dialogue and cooperation among economies in the Asia-Pacific region. Comprising 21 member economies, APEC aims to promote free trade and sustainable economic growth. It is the largest regional economic cooperation body in the world, representing approximately 37% of the global population, 61% of global GDP, and 49% of global trade.
Gyeongju Summit
The theme of the 2025 APEC Summit was “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.” From October 31 to November 1, President Lee Jae-myung and leaders and representatives from participating economies announced the “Gyeongju Declaration,” a joint statement expressing their commitment to future cooperation.
The Gyeongju Declaration, built around the pillars of connection, innovation, and prosperity, outlined key areas of cooperation such as trade, investment, digital innovation, and inclusive growth. It also recognized the cultural and creative industries as new growth engines for the Asia-Pacific region and emphasized the need for strengthened cooperation in this sector. Notably, for the first time in APEC’s history, the declaration explicitly highlighted the importance of cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI). The APEC AI Initiative aims to ensure that all member economies participate in the AI transition and share the benefits of technological advancement, focusing on expanding AI-related infrastructure and fostering economic growth through AI innovation.
However, due to differing positions between the United States—which has prioritized protectionist trade policies—and China, which opposes such measures, the declaration omitted language affirming support for free trade under the World Trade Organization (WTO) system. The declaration carries significant meaning as it presents a comprehensive direction for cooperation among the 21 member economies on key global economic issues, including trade, at a time when uncertainty in the international economic landscape continues to intensify.
Bilateral Meetings Held During the APEC Summit
그림 2South Korea–U.S. Tariff Negotiations
During the APEC summit period, South Korea and the United States concluded negotiations on institutional tariffs. South Korea agreed to a strategic investment of 350 billion dollars in the United States and signed an MOU. Of this amount, 200 billion dollars will be invested in key sectors such as energy, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and AI. As a result, the U.S. tariff on Korean automobiles was reduced from 25% to 15%, and the United States also approved South Korea’s plan to construct nuclear-powered submarines.
On November 1, President Lee Jae-myung held a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, during which the two leaders agreed to strengthen communication between the two countries and enhance cooperation on resolving issues related to North Korea. President Lee then held his first Korea–Japan summit with Prime Minister Takaiichi in Gyeongju, confirming their commitment to continuing the improved bilateral relations established under the previous administration and cooperating in response to North Korea’s nuclear threats.
In addition, President Lee held a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia, further expanding cooperation across economic, security, and regional issues.
The Gyeongju APEC Summit carries significant meaning in that it reaffirmed the commitment of all 21 member economies to comprehensive cooperation amid rising uncertainties in the global economy. In particular, expanding the scope of cooperation to include AI, digital sectors, and the cultural and creative industries—against the backdrop of rapid technological change and global supply chain restructuring—is viewed as a turning point for establishing a foundation for sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific region. The Gyeongju Declaration is especially meaningful as it presents a cooperative direction for member economies to build a shared future despite the increasingly unstable international economic landscape.