- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced candidate cities on the 7th at the Second Meeting of the Host City Selection Committee -

- Passed the written assessment of objective criteria and competencies, actively preparing for remaining assessment including on-site inspections -

Incheon Metropolitan City announced on May 7th that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Host City Selection Committee selected Incheon as a candidate to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting 2025. 

<Yoo Jeong-bok, Mayor of Incheon Metropolitan City, along with supporters of the Incheon United FC, performed a promotional event in hopes of Incheon hosting the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting 2025 at the Incheon Football Stadium on May 11, 2024.>

<Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok performed a promotional event in hopes of Incheon hosting the 2025 APEC ALEM at the 35th Hwadojin Festival held at North Square of the Dongincheon Station in Dong-gu on May 10, 2024.>

Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok performed a promotional event for Incheon to host the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting 2025 with participants at the 2023 4th Incheon Resident’s Autonomous Unity Rally held at the Namdong Gymnasium on June 16, 2023.>

Last March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs formed the Host City Selection Committee to embark on the process of selecting a host city for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting week in November 2025. On the afternoon of the 7th, the Second Meeting of the Host City Selection Committee was held where Incheon, Jeju, and Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do were selected as candidate cities and resolved the plans for on-site inspections of these three cities. 

Incheon successfully passed the written assessment of four assessment criteria and 18 assessment indicators that objectively assess the competencies required to host international conferences. As a candidate city, Incheon will participate in the selection assessment schedule including the on-site inspections and presentation of hosting plans. 

Incheon has secured economic, cultural, and human exchanges with APEC, Korea’s most significant trading and investment partner. Incheon has furthermore highlighted its status as the most appropriate location for contributing to the activation of national and regional economies by enhancing the strategic cooperation of emerging core technology sectors led by Incheon which includes biotechnology and semiconductors. 

Furthermore, Incheon has been meticulously preparing strategies based on its robust infrastructure including Incheon International Airport, hotels, convention centers, and Songdo International Conference Complex Zone, and substantial experience in hosting international conferences such as the 2018 OECD World Forum and the 2023 Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meeting. 

Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok stated, “Incheon has demonstrated leadership of the Republic of Korea as the host country and is the only city capable of promoting a legacy where APEC member countries can produce outcomes.” The mayor further added that “hosting the APEC Leaders’ Meeting is the fate of Incheon as the global business city.”

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to select the host city in July after on-site inspection and presentations of hosting plans for each candidate city in May.