The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2025 was held this week in Gyeongju, South Korea. As the hosting country’s president, Lee Jae-myung engaged in intensive multilateral diplomacy, holding meetings with various world leaders, and showcasing Korean culture and a friendly attitude through “diplomacy of gifts”.
On October 29th, before the meeting between Lee Jae-myung and the U.S. President Donald Trump, Lee awarded Trump with the highest Korean honor, the “Order of the Golden Teak”, and presented a replica model of the “Heavenly Horse Tomb Gold Crown” as a commemorative gift.
The “Order of the Golden Teak” is the highest honor the Korean government awards to foreign heads of state who have made outstanding contributions to national security and international friendship. Trump became the first U.S. president to receive this honor.
During the award ceremony, President Lee expressed his hope that Trump would continue to play the role of “Peacemaker” for the Korean Peninsula. He also mentioned that the symbolic “Heavenly Horse Tomb Gold Crown”, representing Silla golden culture, signifies a new era of continued friendship and prosperity between South Korea and the United States.
On the 31st, President Lee held an unofficial summit with the Japanese Prime Minister Koutarou Hayashi, with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. President Lee started with humor, saying, “I heard that Prime Minister Hayashi has achieved all his dreams – drumming, diving, and riding motorcycles,” which brought laughter to the room.
Prime Minister Hayashi expressed his desire for deeper cooperation between the two countries in security, economy, and social sectors. President Lee responded by highlighting the close and mutually dependent relationship between South Korea and Japan, comparing it to neighbors sharing a common yard who sometimes end up hurting each other due to their proximity. Prime Minister Hayashi agreed with this sentiment.
After the meeting, President Lee presented Korean seaweed and cosmetics to Prime Minister Hayashi; in return, Hayashi gave a gift of Go chess pieces and a chess pot made by Kamakura City, the sister city of Donghae City in Gyeongbuk, symbolizing the friendship between the two countries.
On October 30th, President Lee prepared 200 boxes of Gyeongju’s famous “Hwangnam Bread” as a welcoming gift for the Chinese delegation, possibly as a prelude to the upcoming “Lee-Xi Summit” scheduled for November 1st to create a positive atmosphere. Korean public opinion is focused on whether sensitive issues like the fixed structures in the West Sea Korean Control Line (PMZ), the ban on Korean imports, and domestic “anti-China sentiment” will be raised during the meeting.
President Lee also instructed Foreign Minister Cho Hyeon to present the same Hwangnam Bread as a gesture of “friendship and welcome” to other member countries’ delegations. In a previous interview with CNN, President Lee mentioned this snack, joking that “almost everyone who comes to Gyeongju will try it”.
“Hwangnam Bread”, originating from Hwangnam-dong in Gyeongju in 1939, is a traditional round snack with red bean filling and was chosen as the official dessert of this year’s APEC. To express a “sincere welcome”, President Lee personally wrapped the freshly baked bread in traditional wrapping cloth for presentation.
During the summit, President Lee Jae-myung had a packed diplomatic schedule.
On the morning of the 31st, he held a meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister and later in the afternoon met with leaders from New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, and Japan.
When meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, President Lee jokingly expressed his desire to “have a chance to go fishing in New Zealand”. Luxon congratulated Gyeongju on successfully hosting the APEC and remembered President Lee’s fondness for fishing.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul jokingly remarked that the Thai people have a strong interest in the Korean Wave, beauty, and plastic surgery culture, saying he also wanted to try Korean-style plastic surgery, causing laughter.
Vietnamese President Luong Cuong pointed out the close trade relations between Vietnam and South Korea, with around 4.6 million Korean tourists visiting Vietnam annually, reflecting the solid cooperation between the two countries.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited President Lee Jae-myung to visit Australia and deliver a speech in Parliament, noting that “a Korean president has never spoken in the Australian Parliament before” and expressing his anticipation for it to happen soon.