Gyeongju — South Korean President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the power of solidarity and cooperation as the key to navigating an era of crisis and uncertainty, citing both the country's democratic history and a popular K-pop animated film.

Speaking at a special address during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit at the Gyeongju Arts Center, President Lee drew a parallel between national spirit and pop culture. "In the global hit K-Pop Demon Hunters," he noted, "K-pop idols and their fans achieve the Honmoon—a powerful act of solidarity that drives away the darkness." He asserted that this "self-evident truth" was also proven by South Korea's 'K-Democracy,' which "drove away the darkness of domestic unrest with the multi-colored light sticks of the last winter." This reference is widely understood to signify the powerful, unified citizen movements in South Korea's recent past.

Global Leadership and Supply Chain Resilience 

President Lee expressed confidence in the 2025 APEC Summit, connecting 21 economies across four continents, stating his belief that it would become a stage for all participants. He stated that South Korea's history—rebuilding through industrialization from the ashes of war and upholding democracy through historical challenges—can offer inspiration and courage to all participants in facing current global crises.

He underscored that "Connection is the power of solidarity that links the era of disconnection." As a global responsible power, South Korea will contribute significantly to restoring the links of trust and cooperation within the region. He highlighted supply chain cooperation as a critical area, pointing out that South Korea was the first APEC host to organize a public-private forum on supply chain sustainability, paving the way for private sector involvement in the discussion.

The Vision for an AI-Driven Future 

Moving to innovation, President Lee declared that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the core of innovation driving sustainable development today. He compared AI to the ancient Cheomseongdae astronomical observatory in Gyeongju, which interpreted the movement of stars based on data. Similarly, he posited, "AI will become an engine of intellect that provides humanity with new insights and direction, grounded in data."

The President announced that South Korea will propose an AI Initiative at this Leaders’ Summit. This initiative is part of the country's efforts to move APEC toward an agenda of "pragmatic, people-centered, inclusive AI," aiming to establish a vision for "AI for all" as the new normal for the Asia-Pacific region. Korea's proposal builds on earlier discussions and ministerial statements made throughout the APEC year, which focused on leveraging AI to drive inclusive growth and structural reforms across member economies.