Korea.net Honorary Reporters on Aug. 5 listen to a presentation at an exhibition booth featuring the city Incheon at the third APEC Senior Officials' Meeting and Related Meetings at the convention facility Songdo Convensia in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu District. (APEC 2025's official Flickr)
By Margareth Theresia
"I didn't know there were this many Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conferences. I thought there was just one."
Korea.net Honorary Reporters on Aug. 5 attended the third APEC Senior Officials' Meeting and Related Meetings (SOM3) at the convention facility Songdo Convensia in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu District. They expressed awe over the size and structure of the global event, which were far more complex and multilayered than expected.
A meeting of digital and artificial intelligence (AI) ministers was held that day, with exhibition booths arranged by government branches and related institutions showcasing specific accomplishments and examples of inter-APEC cooperation.
The Honorary Reporters toured the conference rooms, listened to briefings and raised their understanding of the APEC Summit's structure.
APEC is not a one-day conference but also includes high working-level talks throughout the year on coordinating cooperative tasks among consultative groups, culminating in the summit. SOM3 is also held in stages, starting with the Informal Senior Officials' Meeting in December last year.
A participant on Aug. 5 receives bottled water from a robot at the third APEC Senior Officials' Meeting and Related Meetings at the convention facility Songdo Convensia in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu District. (APEC 2025's official Flickr account)
Honorary Reporters looked around the SOM3 booths after a briefing, which provided not only information but also showed how each organization promotes international cooperation within the APEC framework.
The Ministry of Science and ICT, Incheon Metropolitan City and the Korea Tourism Organization each presented content on their respective strengths and policy directions in line with APEC themes. The ministry's promotion of the country's AI and digital transition initiatives stood out to visitors.
Honorary Reporter from Russia Alina Menshakova said, "I was particularly impressed by the AI interpretation service booth. I asked questions about APEC to a robot on the screen and got a response in fluent Russian, which was astonishing."
Korea.net Honorary Reporters on Aug. 5 take a group photo at the third APEC Senior Officials' Meeting and Related Meetings at the convention facility Songdo Convensia in Incheon's Yeonsu-gu District. (Margareth Theresia)
"I'd only heard of APEC through the news but never knew that it has so many meetings," Honorary Reporter from China Xu Ao said. "I hope the APEC Summit in October is even more meaningful in being hosted by the historical city of Gyeongju."
Concluding on Aug. 15, this year's SOM3 hosts the Food Security Ministerial Meeting (Aug. 9-10) and the Women and the Economy Forum (Aug. 12). Afterward is the APEC Summit slated to start in late October in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.
margareth@korea.kr