Minister Choi Hwi-young: “The cultural and creative industries are a key driver for job creation and economic growth.”

APEC’s First High-Level Dialogue on Cultural Industries
Ministers and Vice-Ministers from 21 Member Nations in Gyeongju, ‘”The cultural creation industry, based on creativity and cultural elements, is now establishing itself as a core industry directly affecting the macroeconomy, including economic growth and job creation, beyond mere cultural expression.”‘,
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, “On the 27th, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hui-young stated this in the opening speech at the ‘Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Dialogue on Cultural Industries’ held at the Hilton Hotel in Gyeongju. This meeting marks the first gathering of ministerial-level officials from the cultural industry sector of APEC’s 21 member economies, and it will continue until the 28th. The meeting is of great significance, as it takes place in a context where the cultural industry is emerging as a key field in the global economy and there is growing international interest in K-content.”,
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Minister Choi Hui-young of Culture, Sports and Tourism giving the opening address at the ‘APEC High-Level Dialogue on Cultural Industries’ held on the 27th at the Hilton Hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. [Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism],
, Minister Choi Hui-young “A First Step in Discussing Cultural Cooperation…Hoping It Becomes a Milestone for Prosperity through Culture”,
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, ‘Minister Choi emphasized that “the cultural creation industry is a key driver of job creation and economic value, with its importance rapidly being highlighted worldwide.” He added, “The dramatic advancements in cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are explosively increasing the consumption of cultural content, creating new added value, and further expanding the economic ripple effects of culture.”‘,
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, “He further expressed his hopes, saying, ‘I expect today’s dialogue to be a clear milestone toward joint prosperity through culture, beyond merely taking a first step toward serious discussions on the cooperation of cultural creation industries within the APEC region.'”,
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, “The High-Level Dialogue on Cultural Industries is conducted under the theme ‘Cultural Creation Industry, New Horizons for Prosperity’ and aligned with the three themes of the 2025 APEC Summit: ‘Connect’, ‘Innovate’, and ‘Prosper’. The meeting aims to highlight the value of the cultural creation industry as a new catalyst for APEC economic cooperation and seek harmonious development plans through it. Additionally, the impact of new technologies such as digital and AI on the industry is also discussed in-depth.”,
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, “Private experts also participated, creating an opportunity for public-private cooperation. Director Kwak Han-seul, who won the grand prize at the 1st Dubai International AI Film Festival, Lee Kyo-gu, a professor at Seoul National University and CEO of Supertone, and Eve Daccord, president of Edgelands Institute, served as sectional presenters, with JYP Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer (CCO) Park Jin-young participating as a special speaker.”,
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Minister Choi Hui-young of Culture, Sports and Tourism taking a commemorative photo with chief representatives from various countries at the opening ceremony of the ‘APEC High-Level Dialogue on Cultural Industries’ held on the 27th at the Hilton Hotel in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. [Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism], JYP Entertainment COO Park Jin-young Attends Welcome Dinner Emphasizing “K-Content as a Communication Platform”,
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, “Before the plenary session, a welcome dinner was held at the Wooyang Museum of Contemporary Art in Gyeongju on the 26th, attended by around 130 participants, including ministerial-level representatives from the member countries, private speakers, and those involved in the cultural industry. Park Jin-young CCO introduced the global success stories of Korean popular culture under the theme ‘Connecting the World through K-pop’ and emphasized that ‘K-culture is not just content, but a cultural language and communication platform shared worldwide.’ He further added that ‘K-pop has now become a powerful cultural force moving the hearts of people globally, beyond just a music genre,’ which gained significant resonance.”,
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JYP Entertainment CCO Park Jin-young presenting on the theme of Connecting the World through K-POP at the ‘2025 APEC High-Level Dialogue on Cultural Industries Welcome Dinner’ held on the 26th at the Wooyang Museum of Contemporary Art in Gyeongju. [Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism],
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, “The dinner featured Gyeongju specialties such as Cheonnyeonhanwoo Bulgogi, ‘Smiling Silla’ Sumaksae Chocolates, and the regional traditional liquor ‘Gyo-Dong Beopju’. Additionally, a performance directed by Jung Gu-ho, with choreographer Lee Ru-da and cello player Ji Park, along with musician Chu Da-hye, captivated the audience with a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. Representatives from various countries also showed great interest in over 40 commemorative items, including ‘Muuz’ prepared by the National Museum Cultural Foundation and a magpie tiger badge from the animation ‘K-pop Demon Hunters’.”,
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, ‘A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official stated, “The dialogue is expected to result in the adoption of a resolution containing the member countries’ commitment to continuous cooperation in the cultural creation industry sector.” The official added, “This resolution will lay the foundation for considering cultural creation industries as a key driver of economic growth and strengthening related cooperation at the APEC level.”‘,
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