By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), led by Minister Chae Hwi-young, hosted the inaugural 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do province, from August 26 to 28.

The High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries marks the first ministerial-level meeting held under the APEC forum with participation from its 21 member economies, which implies its significance for acknowledging cultural and creative industries as vital drivers of the economy. The confirmed attendance of chief representatives from leading member economies at this first-ever dialogue demonstrates strong regional interest in and commitment to advancing cultural cooperation.

Under the theme “Cultural and Creative Industries: New Horizons for Prosperity,” the High-Level Dialogue was divided into three thematic sessions: Connect, Innovate, and Prosper, in alignment with the overarching theme of the 2025 APEC Summit, “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.”

The first session, “CCIs as a New Catalyst for Economic Cooperation within APEC,” aims to build a consensus around cultural and creative industries as new core growth engines in APEC regional development and also explore opportunities for regional growth.

The session shared best practices of member economies where cultural and creative industries have facilitated a close integration across culture, technology, and industry.

The second session, “Developments in CCIs Driven by Digital and AI Innovation,” is designed to explore how digital and AI technologies impact and reshape all lifecycle stages of the cultural and creative industries. The session presented case studies highlighting the fusion of advanced technology and cultural expression and discuss measures to safeguard the rights of creators in the digital transformation era.

The third session, “Advancing a Harmonious Asia-Pacific Community through CCIs,” aims to discuss practical cultural cooperation ideas grounded in cultural diversity and mutual respect. The session also emphasized the need to establish a sustainable framework for APEC cultural collaboration.

As a key outcome of the High-Level Dialogue, APEC member economies are expected to adopt a resolution document affirming their shared regional commitment to sustained cooperation in the cultural and creative industries.