A stunning assembly of the world's most influential business leaders—including confirmed and highly anticipated CEOs from NVIDIA, OpenAI, Google, and Apple—is set to descend upon the historic city of Gyeongju, South Korea, later this month for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit. The gathering, running for four days from October 28th, will bring together approximately 1,700 global executives and government officials to debate global economic issues under the theme of '3B (Beyond, Border, Business)', with an intense focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and energy transition.
The concentration of tech powerhouses suggests that South Korea is poised to cement its status as a critical hub for the global AI alliance.
AI and Chip Powerhouses Lead the Charge
The most notable confirmed attendee is Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, the undisputed leader in AI chips. Huang, who accepted an invitation from Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won (SK Group Chairman), is scheduled to give a keynote address on building the semiconductor and AI ecosystem. His attendance is highly anticipated as it is expected to accelerate cooperation with Korean semiconductor giants like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. There is strong speculation that Huang will hold separate meetings with Korean business leaders, including Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, potentially leading to announcements on future collaborations.
Adding to the excitement, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is also highly likely to make a return visit to Korea. Chairman Chey reportedly extended a personal invitation to Altman earlier this month. With both Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix participating as potential high-bandwidth memory (HBM) supply partners for OpenAI's major projects, the Summit is seen as a venue to reconfirm this critical "AI alliance."
Big Tech and Global Finance on the Guest List
The guest list also features other global heavy hitters, including confirmed speakers like Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) CEO Joaquin Duato, and Deloitte Asia Pacific CEO David Hill.
Attention is also focused on the possible attendance of other major Big Tech leaders, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, all of whom are listed as invitees. Their potential presence underscores the Summit’s significance as a major platform for setting the global tech agenda.
Geopolitics and Tech Rivalry on the Gyeongju Stage
The gathering will serve as a dramatic backdrop for the intensifying US-China technology rivalry. With the expected attendance of US President Donald Trump at the APEC Business Summit on the 29th, and the confirmed attendance of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the main APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, the stage is set for a high-stakes geopolitical drama.
The visit of the G2 leaders will be paralleled by top Chinese business executives, including Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, whose schedules are being finalized following President Xi's confirmation. Discussions at the Summit are likely to be dominated by themes of technological sovereignty, future industries like semiconductors, AI, and electric vehicles, and the ongoing re-shaping of global supply chains.
Samsung to Unveil Foldable Tech Leadership
The Summit also provides a strategic opportunity for South Korea to showcase its own technological leadership. Samsung Electronics plans to use the occasion to unveil the physical prototype of its next-generation 'Galaxy Z Tri-Fold' (tentative name) smartphone for the first time. Displaying the new product before a global audience of world leaders and CEOs is a calculated move to assert Samsung’s dominance in mobile technology innovation.
The APEC CEO Summit commences with a welcome dinner on the 28th and will feature seven main sessions, covering topics such as:
Global Economic Issues and Responses to Protectionism
AI and Semiconductor Mega-Infrastructure Financing
Digital and Energy Transition
The sheer volume of top-tier global leaders in one location—from cutting-edge technology to global finance and the highest levels of government—makes the upcoming Gyeongju Summit an unprecedented and pivotal event for the future of the Asia-Pacific and the global economy.
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