The APEC 2025 High-Level Dialogue on Culture and Creative Industries officially opened Tuesday evening in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, marking a historic milestone as ministerial-level cultural officials from all 21 APEC member economies gathered for the first time. This three-day event represents a significant step forward in recognizing cultural industries as a vital sector of the global economy, bringing together 130 delegates including government officials and industry leaders to explore the future of cultural cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.
The dialogue is being held in the historic Korean city of Gyeongju, which will also serve as the host location for the APEC Economic Leaders Week in November. During Wednesday's opening ceremony, South Korea's Culture Minister Chae Hwi-young emphasized the rapidly growing importance of culture and creative industries in today's economy. He noted that these sectors have firmly established themselves as core economic drivers that directly influence major macroeconomic indicators, including economic growth rates and job creation statistics.
Minister Chae highlighted the particular significance of cultural industries in an era of rapid technological advancement, stating, "Today, with the dramatic advances represented by artificial intelligence, we are undergoing a profound transition. These changes are driving explosive growth in cultural content consumption, generating new added value and amplifying culture's positive impact on the economy." He expressed optimism that the dialogue would foster stronger cooperation among APEC member nations in developing their cultural sectors.
The minister emphasized APEC's foundational mission, explaining, "Since its founding, APEC has pursued economic growth and community spirit through mutual cooperation. This event will not only mark the first formal platform for discussing cultural and creative industries within APEC, but also serve as a clear milestone signaling the start of shared prosperity through culture."
A special celebratory dinner held on Tuesday featured prominent leaders from South Korea's cultural content industry, including several major entertainment company executives. Among the attendees were Park Jin-young (also known as J.Y. Park), Chief Creative Officer of JYP Entertainment; Yang Min-suk, CEO of YG Entertainment; Lee Jae-sang, CEO of Hybe; and Jang Cheol-hyuk, CEO of SM Entertainment. These industry leaders represent some of the most influential companies behind the global success of K-pop and Korean cultural content.
During the dinner, Park Jin-young delivered a keynote presentation titled "K-pop Connecting the World," where he shared compelling success stories of K-pop and other Korean cultural exports that have achieved international recognition. Park emphasized that "K-culture is more than content; it has become a cultural language and a platform for communication shared across the globe." He called for enhanced APEC-level cooperation to help cultural industries continue growing through the implementation of innovative digital technologies and strategic creative talent development programs.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the high-level dialogue discussions are organized around the central theme "Cultural and Creative Industries: A New Horizon for Prosperity," which aligns directly with the broader agenda of the upcoming APEC Leaders Meeting. The comprehensive program has been structured into three distinct sessions, each with specific focus areas: "Connect," "Innovate," and "Prosper."
The dialogue sessions are designed to address three critical aspects of cultural industry development: first, recognizing cultural industries as a new catalyst for APEC's overall economic growth; second, exploring how these industries can be further developed through digital innovation and artificial intelligence integration; and third, advancing regional cooperation initiatives based on principles of cultural diversity and mutual respect among member nations.
The dialogue continues through Thursday across various venues in Gyeongju, with Minister Chae serving as the event's presiding chair. APEC member economies are expected to conclude the gathering by adopting a comprehensive joint statement that will formally affirm their collective commitment to continued collaboration and partnership development in the cultural and creative industry sectors, setting the foundation for future cooperative initiatives in the region.
