By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul (Co-head of the Preparatory Office for APEC 2025), Gyeongsangbuk-do Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, and Gyeongju City Mayor Joo Nak-young signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City for cooperation on preparation for the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (2025 AELM) on January 22, 2025, at the Government Complex Seoul Annex.

By signing the MOU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the provincial and municipal governments hosting the 2025 AELM (Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City) showed their commitment to reinforce their cooperation framework for the successful preparations for the 2025 AELM.

They also agreed to strengthen cooperation on all other relevant matters such as building urban environment and necessary facilities like meeting venues and accommodations, and establishing and implementing measures regarding media and transportation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul emphasized the importance of seamless and efficient cooperation among the central and provincial and municipal governments as a critical factor for the success of the 2025 AELM.

On that note, he reaffirmed his commitment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-head of the Preparatory Office to sparing no efforts to contribute for the success of the event.

Gyeongsangbuk-do Province Governor Lee Cheol-woo, calling the 2025 APEC the most significant event to take place in his province, assured that relevant organizations have been closely cooperating.

He went on to express his confidence that the signing of the MOU would mark a significant milestone toward enhancing collaboration and elevating the overall quality of the AELM.

Gyeongju City Mayor Joo Nak-young highlighted the efforts made in preparing essential elements through multiple site inspections by relevant Ministries and stressed that it is now time to develop a detailed and strategic action plan to further refine the specific support measures for each of those elements.

Mayor Joo pledged that the city will make sure that all AELM infrastructure is world-class, and will put in its utmost efforts to ensure that the host city seamlessly makes preparations to offer all necessary support.

With the preparation plan for the 2025 AELM agreed upon in their MOU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City will continue to communicate and work closely together for the success of the event. To that end, they will devise concrete and substantive plans as well as their implementation measures.