'APEC CEO Summit' Sets Record: Discussions on AI, Semiconductors, and Carbon Neutrality

Coinciding with the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju, the APEC CEO Summit is expected to become an unprecedented platform for political and economic exchange. Held just before the APEC Summit, the Gyeongju APEC CEO Summit serves as the official channel for the private sector to convey its perspectives to world leaders. Global CEOs and government officials will attend the APEC CEO Summit at the Gyeongju Hwabaek International Convention Center (HICO) from the 28th to the 31st. The APEC Summit will follow at the same venue from the 31st to the 1st of next month.
According to diplomatic sources on the 9th, President Lee Jae-myung and several other heads of state plan to participate directly in the APEC CEO Summit to hear from CEOs. President Lee is considering attending the opening ceremony on the 28th to engage with global business leaders. The APEC CEO Summit is set to be the official channel for the private sector to communicate with world leaders just before the main summit. Insights from the APEC Business Advisory Council may also be reflected in the joint declaration of the summit.
■ Business Leaders to Chair and Speak at Sessions
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the event organizing committee have sent invitations to 1,700 to 2,000 global CEOs. As the host country, Korea will see its top business leaders and executives participate directly in the Gyeongju APEC CEO Summit. They are expected to speak at various sessions and interact with global leaders and CEOs.
Leaders and CEOs from major Korean conglomerates such as Samsung, Hyundai Motor Company, SK Group, and LG Corporation will attend the APEC CEO Summit, forging networks with their global counterparts. For Korean companies, this event will serve as a platform to attract international investment and promote K-semiconductors, batteries, and biotech. Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK Group and President of KCCI, will deliver the official welcome address at the opening ceremony on the 28th. On the 31st, he will chair the sustainability and investment session, leading discussions on 'ESG, Carbon Neutrality, and Global Investment Partnerships.'
Han Jong-hee, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics, will join a panel discussion on semiconductor supply chains and AI infrastructure on the 29th. Topics include next-generation memory and system semiconductors, as well as AI chips for data centers, with both domestic and international big tech CEOs participating as panelists.
Although Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, will not be an official speaker, he is expected to play a key role in informal meetings and cooperation talks with global AI and semiconductor CEOs. Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, will deliver a keynote speech on the 30th during the future mobility and hydrogen economy session. He will address accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, hydrogen mobility, and building global cooperation ecosystems. On the 31st, a session on green energy transition and the battery ecosystem will take place, focusing on next-generation battery technology and Korea-global EV collaboration strategies. Participation from Koo Kwang-mo, Chairman of LG Corporation, and energy sector CEOs is also under consideration.
■ Global Tech Celebrity CEOs to Gather
Among international CEOs, the most anticipated attendee is Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. While Musk has been mentioned as a potential invitee to APEC, his attendance has not been officially confirmed. Although his mother, Maye Musk, visited Korea in 2022, Musk himself has never attended an official event in Korea. Should he attend the Gyeongju APEC, it would mark his first official visit to the country. Musk has previously expressed interest in visiting Korea, once stating on Twitter in 2018 that 'it has been too long since my last visit to Korea.'
Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, has reportedly confirmed his attendance following multiple invitations from the government and business community. Huang is expected to lead an AI-related session at the Gyeongju APEC. David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group, will participate in a finance and investment session. Gary E. Dickerson, CEO of Applied Materials, Inc., will speak at a session on semiconductor supply chains.
Additionally, Sam Altman (OpenAI), Tim Cook (Apple Inc.), and Sundar Pichai (Google) are on the invitation list, making their attendance possible. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, received an invitation to the Gyeongju APEC during his visit to Korea in August, though his participation has not been officially confirmed. Other notable figures reportedly being considered include Stephanie Pope (The Boeing Company), Russell Stokes (GE Aerospace), Michael Williamson (Lockheed Martin Corporation), and Sameer Samat, CTO of Google.
Global CEOs will engage in in-depth discussions on a wide range of industrial and economic topics, including energy transition, digital and AI, trade and supply chains, bio-health, finance and investment, sustainability, future mobility, and carbon neutrality. The summit will offer insights into policy and business directions centered on innovative technology and sustainability.
Kim Kyung-soo