Trump and Xi key to South Korea’s APEC summit as attendance remains uncertain



Analysis Trump and Xi key to South Korea’s APEC summit as attendance remains uncertain Washington’s reduced tariffs and a planned bilateral meeting give Seoul leverage to press for US and Chinese presence Sooyoung OhAugust 6, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Chinese leader Xi Jinping (Oct. 25, 2022), ROK President Lee Jae-myung (Aug. 1, 2025) and U.S. President Donald Trump (July 14, 2025) \| Image: The State Council The People’s Republic of China, ROK Presidential Office and the White House, edited by Korea Pro South Korea’s ambition to reassert diplomatic leadership by hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit this October in Gyeongju faces growing uncertainty as U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have yet to confirm their attendance, jeopardizing the event’s diplomatic weight and significance. This year’s summit is Seoul’s highest-profile multilateral moment since the 2010 G20 Summit and a test of President Lee Jae-myung’s ability to restore South Korea’s global standing following former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration in December. The Lee administration has proposed an agenda focused on artificial intelligence governance, demographic transitions and sustainable development. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Why South Korea cannot rebalance growth without stronger regional clusters 02Samsung, SK Hynix rejection exposes South Korea’s chip-grid financing problem 03Trump’s Cheongung social media post tests Seoul’s refusal to arm to Ukraine 04Lee Jae Myung risks public trust as South Korea rewires its justice system 05South Korea turns to Central Asia as Iran war tests its energy resilience 06Houthi seizure of Mokha sharpens South Korea’s Hormuz deployment dilemma 07Japan’s stronger yen may cut Korea’s import bill while raising funding costs 08South Korea leans on Europe as Hormuz deployment choices grow narrower

Analysis

Trump and Xi key to South Korea’s APEC summit as attendance remains uncertain

Washington’s reduced tariffs and a planned bilateral meeting give Seoul leverage to press for US and Chinese presence

Sooyoung OhAugust 6, 2025

Trump and Xi key to South Korea’s APEC summit as attendance remains uncertain

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (Oct. 25, 2022), ROK President Lee Jae-myung (Aug. 1, 2025) and U.S. President Donald Trump (July 14, 2025) | Image: The State Council The People’s Republic of China, ROK Presidential Office and the White House, edited by Korea Pro

South Korea’s ambition to reassert diplomatic leadership by hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit this October in Gyeongju faces growing uncertainty as U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have yet to confirm their attendance, jeopardizing the event’s diplomatic weight and significance.

This year’s summit is Seoul’s highest-profile multilateral moment since the 2010 G20 Summit and a test of President Lee Jae-myung’s ability to restore South Korea’s global standing following former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration in December.

The Lee administration has proposed an agenda focused on artificial intelligence governance, demographic transitions and sustainable development.

Trump and Xi key to South Korea’s APEC summit as attendance remains uncertain

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Sooyoung Oh