Designing a Sustainable Cultural Platform: Strategic Vision and Implementation of the Post- APEC Gyeongju Forum

The 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju presents a pivotal opportunity to create a lasting legacy for cultural cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. This paper proposes the establishment of a Post-APEC Gyeongju Forum as a sustainable global platform centered on culture, creativity, and inclusion. We analyze the conceptual rationale and policy drivers behind the forum’s creation, define its philosophical identity built on three pillars (history & culture, creativity & innovation, peace & inclusion), and benchmark comparable international forums (World Economic Forum in Davos, Boao Forum for Asia, Jeju Forum, Kyoto’s League of Historical Cities network) to draw strategic insights. We then outline an implementation framework encompassing governance structure and public-private partnerships, thematic session design, funding strategies, and integration within APEC’s institutional ecosystem after 2025. The proposed forum’s content architecture consists of five core session tracks that bridge heritage with innovation and local with global issues. A multi-level governance model—combining local leadership, national support, and expert and private-sector input—is recommended for effective operation, alongside diversified funding streams to ensure sustainability. We argue that the Gyeongju Forum can serve as a model of locally driven diplomacy and an institutionalized cultural cooperation mechanism in the region. By embedding cultural dialogue into APEC’s post-2025 agenda and leveraging international networks, the forum aims to enhance Asia-Pacific regional collaboration through the soft-power avenues of culture and shared values. The analysis offers policy insights on how culture-focused forums can complement economic- and security-focused cooperation, ultimately contributing to inclusive and innovative development.