- 1st meeting presided by Prime Minister after elevation of “Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee” to under Prime Minister -

- “Basic Plan for 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM)” and plans to hold Senior Officials’ Meetings (SOMs) and other Ministerial meetings at different locations -

1. The third meeting of the Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee was held in the Government Complex Seoul from 14:00 to 15:00 on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, chaired by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

   ※ The “Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee” was established in accordance with the "Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the Organizing Committee and Preparatory Office for APEC 2025 (Presidential Decree No. 459, implemented from August 17, 2023).“ Following the revision of the regulations (Presidential Decree No. 470, implemented from September 20, 2024), the Chairperson of the Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee was promoted from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister.

     * The Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee consists of a total of 33 members, including the Prime Minister, -- its Chairperson -- Ministers from relevant Ministries, and heads of municipal/provincial government agencies and major business organizations.

2. This meeting was the first of the Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee since its elevation to under the Prime Minister. Members of the Organizing Committee reviewed and passed the “Basic Plan for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM),” which charts the basic plans and directions for the management and preparations for the 2025 AELM.

ㅇ In the Basic Plan, the Committee proposed holding the 2025 AELM in late 2025 in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, as well as the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSOM) and the APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.

ㅇ “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow” was presented as the theme of the 2025 AELM, demonstrating the willingness to realize APEC’s vision to build an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific region in the near future. Furthermore, the government suggested “Connect, Innovate, and Prosper” as the APEC 2025’s three priorities toward this theme.

3. In addition, in line with the decision reached at its second meeting to hold major APEC meetings at different locations*, the Committee passed a concrete, relevant plan which had been drawn up after consultations with the relevant Ministries and municipal/provincial government agencies.

* At its second meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2024, the Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee selected Gyeongju in Gyeongsangbuk-do as the host city of the 2025 AELM, and passed the plan to host the Senior Officials‘ Meetings (SOMs) and other Ministerial meetings in the other two candidate host cities (Incheon Metropolitan City and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province).

ㅇ The Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee decided to hold an Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) in Seoul in mid December this year, the first SOM in Gyeongju, the second SOM in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the third SOM in Incheon Metropolitan City. Sectoral Ministerial meetings will also be held in conjunction with the SOMs in each designated city.

   ※ Venues of major APEC meetings (Tentative)

    ㅇ Seoul in mid December, 2024: Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM)

    ㅇ Gyeongju: Deputy Finance Ministers’ Meeting and first Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1)

    ㅇ Busan: APEC Ocean-Related Ministerial Meeting (OMM) and Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM)

    ㅇ Jeju: Meeting of APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT), Education Ministerial Meeting (AEMM), Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting (HRDMM), Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting (SMEMM), and second Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM2)

    ㅇ Incheon: Digital Ministerial Meeting, APEC Women and Economy Forum (WEF), Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM), Financial Ministers’ Meeting, Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM), and third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3)

    ㅇ Gyeongju in late 2025: APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM), APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM), and Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSOM)

4. In addition, the Committee was reported on the progress in preparations and relevant plans for the 2025 AELM as well as those for the business events expected to take place along with the AELM.

ㅇ The Korea APEC 2025 Organizing Committee reviewed the overall progress in preparations for the 2025 AELM, including selecting the host city as well as securing necessary workforce and budget, and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ensuring smooth progress in the construction of the meeting venues and other infrastructure as well as the success of all meetings and activities during Korea’s 2025 APEC host year.

ㅇ Furthermore, regarding business events, the Committee voiced its strong commitment to demonstrate its leadership in the spread of free trade as well as the promotion of trade and investment in the region by holding talks between the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and leaders of APEC member economies as well as a CEO Summit among business leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region. It added that it will use the visit to Korea by business leaders of the region as an opportunity to step up investment and business cooperation.

5. With the Basic Plan for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting set at today’s meeting, the government will make utmost efforts with each relevant Ministry, municipal/provincial government agencies and the private sector for a successful APEC 2025. During its chairmanship of the APEC 2025, Korea is expected to demonstrate its ability to lead discussions on regional economic cooperation and host large-scale international politico-econo-cultural events anywhere in Korea, which will contribute significantly to the realization of its vision of becoming a Global Pivotal State (GPS).