At the APEC 2025 Summit welcome banquet on October 31 in Gyeongju, South Korea, K-pop icon G-DRAGON delivered a show-stopping performance that saw world leaders become his fans.
Celebrities + Statesmen
Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard shared a behind-the-scenes video of the performance on Instagram, calling G-DRAGON the “King of K-pop.”
Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim filmed the show too, writing: “K-pop fans in Malaysia asked me to share his performance — so here it is.”
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted: “APEC isn’t just about policy—this show made it clear.” His post highlighted G-DRAGON as “K-pop star and APEC ambassador.”
The Stage That Broke Borders
G-DRAGON opened with his hit “Power”, followed by “Home Sweet Home” and “Drama”, all while donning the traditional Korean gat hat—a powerful cultural visual that merged tradition with modern stardom.
Leaders throughout the room filmed the performance on their phones, turning a diplomatic event into an instantaneous global music moment.
Why It Matters
- G-DRAGON became the only K-pop artist officially performing at the APEC welcome banquet, placing K-pop firmly on a global diplomatic stage.
- The performance illustrates how cultural soft power—specifically K-pop—can bridge politics and entertainment.
- By earning praise and social shares from world leaders, G-DRAGON reinforced his role not only as a music icon but as a cultural ambassador.