The APEC 2025 Summit was held in Busan, South Korea (RM). APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. It is a very important meeting. Leaders from 21 countries come together. They talk about trade, money, and growing the economy.
But this year, the talk was different. The main focus shifted. It moved from trade agreements to culture. This happened because of one man: the leader of the global K-pop group BTS.
was not just a guest. He was invited as a Special Envoy. He gave a major speech. His presence introduced a new echelon diplomacy. He showed that culture as soft power is now a powerful economic force. This article will explain how shifted the entire conversation.
The New Role of Culture in Diplomacy RM
For many years, trade talks were simple. They were about factories, tariffs, and exports. APEC 2025 appearance proved that culture must now be part of that conversation.
1. Culture as Soft Power
Soft power is the ability to influence other countries without using force or money. It is done through appeal and attraction.
- K-pop Global Influence: represents K-pop. K-pop is one of South Korea’s biggest exports. It earns billions of dollars for the country. It sells music, movies, fashion, and food all over the world.
- The Power of Attraction: RM told the leaders that people who love K-pop are more likely to buy Korean goods. They are more likely to visit the country. This influence is soft power. It makes the economy grow in a gentle way.
RM showed the leaders that a song can be as strong as a trade agreement.
2. The Economic Echelon
An echelon is a level or rank. This APEC 2025 attendance introduced a new echelon diplomacy.
- Beyond Politics: In the past, only politicians, diplomats, and business leaders were invited to APEC economic diplomacy.
- A Seat at the Table: He invitation gave culture a seat at the highest economic table. It showed that culture is not just entertainment. It is a core part of economic growth.
His role confirmed that culture’s new echelon is now equal to technology and finance in terms of global influence.
RM’s Message to Leaders RM
His APEC speech was the most important part of his visit. He spoke to the world leaders about two main topics: youth and digital transformation.
1. Youth Engagement in APEC
The average age of the leaders at APEC is high. He brought a new, young voice to the room.
- Speaking to Youth: He told the leaders that they must listen to young people. Young people care deeply about the world’s problems, like climate change and economic unfairness.
- New Solutions: He said that young people are creative. They use new ideas and new technology. He encouraged APEC to include more youth engagement in APEC planning. He said that future solutions will come from the young generation.
- Bridging the Gap: He showed that he can connect the world’s highest leaders with the world’s biggest youth audience, called ARMY.
2. The Digital Transformation of Culture
He talked about how the internet and technology have helped K-pop grow so fast. This is the digital transformation culture.
- Breaking Borders: The internet allows a song made in Seoul to be heard instantly in New York or London. Digital tools allow fans to connect instantly. This breaks down borders for trade and ideas.
- Platform Power: He noted that global platforms like YouTube and Spotify are new export highways. K-pop uses these digital platforms perfectly to grow its influence.
He explained that digital transformation culture is the secret sauce. It is what makes K-pop’s Busan Summit culture message so powerful and fast.
The Impact on South Korea RM
The RM APEC 2025 event was a massive win for the host country, South Korea.
1. Soft Power Win
The attention on Him was huge. All the world’s media reported on his speech.
- Global Spotlight: The media spotlight was on the Busan Summit culture, not just the trade disputes. This gave South Korea free, positive marketing to billions of people.
- National Pride: It was a huge source of national pride. South Korea showed the world that its culture is now a global export power.
2. Economic Benefit
The K-pop global influence has a clear economic benefit.
- More Tourism: When a star like Him attends an event in Busan, more tourists want to visit that city. Busan expects a major rise in visitors.
- Investment: The success of K-pop makes South Korea look modern, dynamic, and forward-thinking. This encourages other countries to invest money in South Korean businesses and technology.
Culture As Soft Power
RM’s APEC 2025 appearance successfully shifted the focus of the economic summit. He introduced a new echelon diplomacy where culture as soft power is treated as a major economic driver.
His APEC speech highlighted the need for youth engagement in APEC and emphasized the role of digital transformation culture. The K-pop global influence he represents showed the leaders that songs and movies are powerful tools for growing the economy. This marks a clear change in how global economic talks are conducted. Culture’s new echelon has arrived.
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