Provincial officials announced on Monday that Jeju will host the second Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in May and a sector-specific ministerial meeting in September. Both are integral to APEC. The SOM is a crucial platform for substantive discussions and decisions on major agenda items before the APEC Leaders’ Summit.
The two-week SOM in May will draw over 2,000 delegates participating in approximately 90 meetings. This period will feature ministerial trade, education, and human resources meetings.
The provincial government is finalizing arrangements for the international conference facilities and securing suite-level accommodations for high-ranking officials. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates this with the APEC Preparatory Planning Team and relevant ministries. Negotiations are underway to reserve up to 1,000 rooms daily for delegates and officials.
The province organizes various events during the meetings to enhance attendees’ experience. These include an exhibition showcasing Jeju’s local culture and cuisine, APEC tours highlighting traditional markets and small businesses in the old town, a food fair, and a beer festival.
In preparation for these events, the provincial government has restructured its organization. They recently established a dedicated team for APEC international meetings and dispatched officials to the Jeju International Convention Center and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs APEC Preparatory Planning Team. This month, plans are in place to form a comprehensive support group comprising related departments and affiliated organizations to ensure a coordinated response.
Kim Mi Young, Director of the province’s Economic Vitality Bureau, stated that the bureau aims to enhance Jeju’s competitiveness in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry by successfully hosting the APEC international meetings. She emphasized their commitment to ensuring that programs linked to local businesses deliver tangible economic benefits to the residents.