South Korea’s President Lee Urges Global Unity as Protectionism and Nationalism Threaten Economic Stability

While attending the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivered a haunting warning on protectionism and nationalism's return, which he referred to as two biggest threats to economic stability across the globe. In his address to over 1,000 global and local business executives, President Lee emphasized the importance of immediate collective action against these rising trends.

"In an era when nationalism and protectionism are on the rise, the principles of working together, living together, and prospering together may sound hollow," Lee said. "But it is precisely in times like this that platforms like APEC need to shine even brighter."

President Lee pledged South Korea to leadership in fostering multilateral commerce and resolving global supply chain breakdown. He emphasized the country's vision to be one of the world's leading three powers in artificial intelligence, to be supported by a $9 billion investment scheme from top international players such as Amazon Web Services, Meta, and Deloitte.

Lee's comments follow the increasing anxiety about economic fragmentation and retreat from globalization. Comparing it to the 2005 APEC summit, he was surprised at how differently geopolitics and the economy have evolved over the last two decades.

By placing South Korea at the center of global economic discussion as an active leader, Lee hopes to re-emphasize the need for solidarity and shared prosperity at a time when the world is getting more divided.