Gyeongju, South Korea — South Korea has launched an extraordinary promotional campaign for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, captivating global audiences with a star-studded cast and a surprising cameo by President Lee Jae-myung.
The special promotional video, titled "The World Heads to Gyeongju," was released today by the APEC Summit Preparatory Planning Team. Directed by Shin Woo-seok of Dolphiners Films, the cinematic clip features APEC honorary ambassador G-Dragon alongside an assembly of K-culture icons, including film director Park Chan-wook, football legend Park Ji-sung, IVE’s Jang Won-young, star chef Ahn Sung-jae, and DJ Peggy Gou. All celebrities reportedly participated without compensation to support the national event.
The video’s most viral moment is the brief, 2-second appearance of President Lee Jae-myung. Shunning traditional presidential authority, President Lee appears dressed as an aircraft marshaller (parking attendant), using a light wand to guide international planes to an orderly queue behind a South Korean aircraft.
Director Shin explained the casting choice was highly symbolic, stating the President's role as a humble organizer was meant to illustrate "Korea's orderly return to the international community." The video aims to deliver the simple, dialogue-free message that "The world gathers in Gyeongju" for the summit, scheduled for October 31 to November 1. It seeks to instill national pride while showcasing Gyeongju’s rich historical culture and South Korea's contemporary global influence.
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