On February 28 (Friday), Minister Yu In Chon of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) convened with key stakeholders, including the APEC 2025 Preparatory Office (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Korea Heritage Service, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Gyeongju City, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), to review the preparation of cultural initiatives for the upcoming APEC Summit, under the aim to successfully host the 2025 APEC Summit and enhance Korea’s cultural presence on the global stage.

Showcasing the Essence of Korean Culture through Cultural and Tourism Events during the Summit

As the APEC Summit will take place in the historic city of Gyeongju, MCST plans to feature a series of special cultural events to highlight the rich heritage of Korea during the Summit: the Special Gold Crown Exhibition at the Gyeongju National Museum (October – November); the K-Content Festival (September – November), which will present an innovative fusion of Korea’s cutting-edge technology with the historical and cultural content of Gyeongju; and a Korean Art & Craft Exhibition (July – December). A major highlight will be the Shilla Gold Crown Special Exhibition, bringing together the five Shilla-era gold crowns in a single place for the first time since their discovery a century ago. This unprecedented exhibition will showcase the cultural excellence of Korea to the world while instilling a stronger sense of national pride in the Korean traditional culture.

In addition, MCST plans to open the Korea Tourism Promotion Hall and offer immersive promotion tour (FAM tour) programs to showcase the charm of Korean tourism content to the 20,000 participants of the APEC Summit. The Ministry will also attract high-value MICE tourists through the MICE Plus Support Program, which provides incentives such as cultural and tourism programs that target travelers to Gyeongju and Gyeongsangbuk-do province for corporate meetings and incentive programs, including the APEC Summit. Looking beyond the APEC Summit, MCST will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to develop various tourism content and deliver top-tier services to ensure visitors return.

Building Momentum with Various Cultural and Tourism Events, Promoting a Nationwide Cultural APEC

For the successful launch of the APEC Summit and the promotion of  a Cultural APEC nationwide, a series of pre-summit cultural and tourism events utilizing unique regional content are planned to take place prior to the Summit, including performances inspired by traditional Shilla culture, such as Hwarangdo (August – November), traditional performances by local youth artists (September – October), ancient tomb concerts (October), the International Gyeongju History Forum (September), and the World Heritage Festival (September – October).

Notably, a high-level cultural dialogue (August) will be implemented for the first time in APEC history, where global culture ministers will come together to discuss global cultural agendas. This initiative will heighten anticipation for the upcoming APEC Summit while promoting cooperation and shared growth through cultural exchanges in the APEC region.

“As can be witnessed in the theme of the 2025 APEC Summit: Building a Sustainable Tomorrow, the role of culture is vital in ensuring sustainable development and shared prosperity in the region,” commented Minister Yu In Chon. “By uniting our cultural strengths, the Ministry will work together with all relevant stakeholders as one team to ensure the success of the summit as a high-level diplomatic event as well as a vibrant cultural festival for world leaders, delegations, and the Korean people.”