K-pop superstar G-Dragon will take center stage at the welcome dinner for world leaders attending the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, according to an announcement from his management agency Galaxy Corp. on Wednesday. The highly anticipated performance will mark a significant cultural moment as one of Korea's most influential artists represents the nation on the global diplomatic stage.
The BigBang leader is scheduled to perform at the welcome event on Friday, which kicks off the two-day APEC summit taking place in the historic southeastern city of Gyeongju. Galaxy Corp. emphasized that G-Dragon will be the sole K-pop artist featured at this prestigious international gathering, highlighting the exclusivity and importance of his selection for the high-profile diplomatic event.
APEC organizers praised the choice of G-Dragon, stating that he represents "the optimal figure to convey in an influential manner the values of connection and sustainability that APEC seeks." This endorsement reflects the growing recognition of K-pop's soft power diplomacy and its ability to bridge cultural divides among the 21 APEC member economies.
G-Dragon's involvement with the APEC summit extends beyond this single performance. The artist was officially appointed as an honorary ambassador for the Gyeongju gathering in July, demonstrating the organizers' commitment to incorporating Korean cultural elements into the summit proceedings. His role as ambassador has included creating promotional content that has significantly boosted international awareness of the event.
The promotional video featuring G-Dragon has become a viral sensation, accumulating over 19 million views on YouTube to date. This massive online engagement demonstrates the global appeal of K-pop stars and their effectiveness in drawing international attention to diplomatic and economic forums that might otherwise receive limited public interest from younger demographics.
