Gyeongju: Next month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Gyeongju is poised to spotlight artificial intelligence (AI), with considerable attention on whether leading executives from Nvidia, OpenAI, and other major tech firms will participate in the event.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the summit is scheduled for October 28-31, organized by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) as an official side event of the multilateral summit between APEC leaders in Gyeongju, located approximately 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The KCCI, acting as the secretariat of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) for the upcoming summit, aims to facilitate the involvement of prominent business figures. ABAC is a private-sector advisory entity that delivers business leaders' recommendations to their respective governments, such as removing trade barriers.
Efforts are underway by government and business leaders to secure the participation of high-profile executives, whose presence could elevate AI as a central theme at the CEO event. Among the anticipated attendees is Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose visit is "most likely confirmed," according to an industry source, although nothing is finalized as per an Nvidia representative.
KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won, also the head of SK Group, personally extended an invitation to Huang last month during a business roundtable held alongside a summit between President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. Huang reportedly responded positively, with indications that he is preparing to lead a dedicated AI session on the final day of the APEC CEO Summit. Additionally, he may hold meetings with the South Korean president and other state leaders and potentially visit semiconductor facilities of Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is another closely observed figure, with Chey having extended an invitation during their July meeting at OpenAI's San Francisco office. OpenAI recently launched an office in Seoul, committing to support Korea's "sovereign AI" policy initiative and collaborating with local tech giant Kakao Corp. on ecosystem integration. OpenAI is also exploring partnerships with Samsung and SK hynix in semiconductors and hardware.
Beyond the CEO gathering, AI will play a pivotal role during the APEC leaders' summit, where the South Korean president aims to present Seoul's "APEC AI Initiative." President Lee emphasized the vision of "AI for all" at the 80th U.N. General Assembly in New York, advocating for technological advancements to align with universal human values.
Other possible attendees from global tech giants include Apple's Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai of Google, and Citigroup's Jane Fraser. From China, Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew are reportedly considering attending.
With numerous CEOs expected to finalize their plans by mid-October, business leaders in South Korea, led by Chey, are actively leveraging their global networks to secure participation. Chey stated that the KCCI will collaborate with the government to transform the APEC CEO Summit into a platform for global companies to connect and cooperate, showcasing the innovative capabilities and sustainability of South Korean firms. He emphasized that the summit will be a "massive showcase" for the strength of the South Korean economy.
Business leaders are expected to use the upcoming Chuseok holiday period to strategize on expanding cooperation with global tech leaders attending the APEC CEO Summit, an industry official noted.