G-Dragon and Cha Eunwoo Light Up Gyeongju APEC, Amplifying Hallyu Diplomacy Through K-Pop and Traditional Instruments

As the 2025 APEC summit concluded in Gyeongju, K-Pop and traditional music took center stage in global diplomacy. Held from October 29 to November 1, this summit featured Hallyu content such as KPop Demon Hunters as key elements, with the cultural performance at the welcome dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Lahan Hotel in Gyeongju on November 1 opening a new chapter in international diplomacy. President Lee Jae-myeong directly mentioned KPop Demon Hunters during his special speech at the APEC CEO Summit. He emphasized global solidarity to overcome crises, stating that “K-Pop idols and their fans complete the ‘Honnun’ by using strong unity to drive away darkness.” Honnun, a core mechanism from the film featuring the demon-hunting girl group HUNTR/X who use music and songs to defeat evil spirits and protect the world, was used as a symbol of cultural exchange. President Lee also demonstrated cultural affinity during his summit meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney by mentioning filmmaker Maggie Kang, who comes from a Korean-Canadian immigrant family. The cultural performance at the state dinner showcased the breadth of Hallyu through the harmony of K-Pop stars and traditional instruments. In the performance themed “Journey of Butterfly: Together, We Fly,” hosted by Cha Eunwoo, G-Dragon appeared wearing a fedora inspired by traditional Korean hats. He performed hit songs such as “Power” and “Home Sweet Home” on stage, introducing himself as the “APEC 2025 Korea Ambassador,” while spectators, including leaders from various countries, were seen filming with their phones and cheering. His appearance resonated with the image of Jin-woo, a member of the villainous boy group Sazaboyz from the film KPop Demon Hunters, illustrating how Hallyu content is utilized in real diplomatic settings. Traditional instrument performances also marked this historic moment. Yoon Eun-hwa, president of the Korean Yanggeum Association and a composer, played original pieces on her modified 56-stringed yanggeum in front of President Lee Jae-myeong and Chinese President Xi Jinping. She began with her composition “New Millennium Long Live,” a piece that reimagines traditional music with a modern sensibility. She then presented “Silk Road,” a performance combining yanggeum, erhu, gayageum, and sand art, expressing the lyricism of East Asian music and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. Finally, the Chinese folk song “Mo Li Hua” echoed through the venue sung by the Gyeongju Youth Choir, conveying hopes for friendship and peace between South Korea and China. The host emphasized the historical symbolism of the yanggeum by stating that it represents and connects Eastern and Western music. After the performance, President Lee Jae-myeong and President Xi Jinping walked onto the stage, shook hands with Yoon Eun-hwa, and offered words of encouragement. Eleven-year-old violinist Kim Yeon-ah performed “Golden,” a track from KPop Demon Hunters, with an AI robot appearing to dance to the music, demonstrating the integration of K-technology and culture. Lee Jung, who participated as a choreographer on KPop Demon Hunters, also took the stage alongside Honey J. RM, leader of BTS, delivered a keynote speech at the APEC CEO Summit, comparing K-Pop to bibimbap by saying it “is based on Korea’s unique aesthetic and emotions while not rejecting elements from Western music such as hip-hop,” thereby highlighting that K-Pop is a genre that fuses Eastern and Western cultures. The highlight of this APEC event was the South Korea-China summit. President Xi Jinping, who visited South Korea for the first time in 11 years, watched G-Dragon’s performance and engaged in cheerful conversations with President Lee Jae-myeong. During the APEC chairmanship handover ceremony, he referenced the “butterfly” motif from the performances to convey a message of hope for the future. This development further fueled expectations regarding the lifting of China’s “Hallyu ban.” Korean film “Lord of the World” has already secured a distributor in China, and experts predict that the diversity of South Korean popular culture content personally viewed by Xi Jinping will have a positive impact on easing the Hallyu ban.