During a significant bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto shared a compelling insight: Korean Pop (K-Pop) music commands immense popularity among Indonesian citizens, especially its vibrant youth demographic. President Prabowo highlighted how this global cultural phenomenon serves as a powerful instrument for South Korea, effectively “conquering the world” through its captivating melodies and dynamic performances.
The discussions took place in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Saturday, November 1. President Prabowo commenced the meeting by expressing his profound gratitude for the exquisite gala dinner hosted the previous evening. His remarks resonated with the attending South Korean officials, who accompanied President Lee and responded with enthusiastic applause, underscoring the cordial atmosphere of the diplomatic exchange.
“I want to thank you for the wonderful gala dinner last night,” President Prabowo stated, elaborating on the impact of Korean culture. “The event was very interesting. I believe Korea will conquer the world with your music and dance. All young Indonesians are crazy about K-Pop,” he added, emphasizing the widespread appeal.
The spectacular gala dinner, held at the Lahan Select Hotel in Gyeongju on Friday evening, October 31, was a key highlight of the APEC proceedings. During this memorable event, President Prabowo, alongside several other APEC member state leaders, had the privilege of witnessing a breathtaking performance by G-Dragon, an undisputed icon of the K-Pop world.
G-Dragon, who has also been appointed as an ambassador for the APEC 2025 Korea Summit, enthralled the distinguished audience with three of his chart-topping hits: “Power,” “Home Sweet Home,” and “Drama.” Adding to the evening’s charm and sophistication, the gala was expertly hosted by Cha Eun-woo, a renowned singer and actor currently fulfilling his mandatory military service, celebrated for his roles in numerous popular TV series and films.
Beyond the rich cultural exchange, President Prabowo utilized his bilateral meeting with President Lee to commend South Korea for its exemplary organization of the APEC Summit in Gyeongju. He lauded the meticulous planning and execution, stating, “I want to congratulate you on your leadership in organizing APEC. The event was very well-organized, very efficient, and always on time—down to the minute.”
Further affirming Indonesia’s strategic partnerships, President Prabowo reiterated the nation’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its already robust ties and comprehensive cooperation with South Korea. He underscored the profound importance of their bilateral relationship, noting, “The relations between our two countries have been very good. South Korea is a very important partner for us in economic cooperation, and overall, relations between our governments are also proceeding very well.”
Accompanying President Prabowo during this crucial bilateral discussion were a delegation of key Indonesian officials: Foreign Minister Sugiono, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Investment Minister and CEO of Danantara Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
Following his productive participation in the series of APEC Summit events and the significant bilateral meeting with South Korea, President Prabowo concluded his visit and departed for Indonesia on Saturday, November 1, marking the end of a successful diplomatic engagement.
Summary
During a bilateral meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, President Prabowo Subianto informed South Korean President Lee Jae-myung about the immense popularity of K-Pop among Indonesian youth. He praised K-Pop as a powerful cultural phenomenon effectively “conquering the world.” Prabowo also extended gratitude for the previous night’s gala dinner, which featured a performance by K-Pop icon G-Dragon and was hosted by singer-actor Cha Eun-woo.
President Prabowo further commended South Korea for its excellent organization of the APEC Summit. He reiterated Indonesia’s unwavering commitment to strengthening its robust ties and comprehensive cooperation with South Korea, highlighting it as a very important economic partner. Following productive discussions and APEC events, President Prabowo concluded his visit and departed for Indonesia on Saturday, November 1.
