South Korea faces its long-awaited diplomatic event this week as it hosts the annual gathering of leaders from Asia-Pacific economies in a historic southern city.

Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will hold a two-day meeting in Gyeongju with trade and foreign ministers’ meetings, as well as high-stakes sideline talks — including a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

This regional event is happening at a critical moment, as trade negotiations between the United States and several countries including China and South Korea reach a turning point, while geopolitical tensions in Northeast Asia and surrounding the Korean Peninsula are escalating and U.S.–China rivalry intensifies.

Min Jeonghun, a foreign affairs expert based in Seoul, believes that some conflicts of opinion among APEC member countries are expected in the summit, with the Trump administration's aggressive pursuit of U.S.-centric policy and protectionist measures that go against free trade.

In this respect, South Korea, as the host country, will be put to the test as it faces the challenge of mediating these differences effectively and steering discussions toward a joint statement that aligns with APEC’s original goals and principles, Min said.

For Seoul, the APEC gathering also serves as an opportunity to advance its stalled trade negotiations with Washington.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will hold talks with Trump.

With its significant reliance on the U.S. for exports, South Korea views tariff negotiations as an urgent priority to ease the burden on its businesses, particularly in key sectors such as automobiles, which face a 25% reciprocal tariff, and steel and aluminum products, which are subject to tariffs of up to 50%.

Min noted the importance of the APEC Summit for China and South Korea’s role in preventing geopolitical tensions around the Korean Peninsula.

He said Beijing would seek more actively to strengthen cooperation and improve ties with Seoul and Tokyo, which are key to advancing its diplomatic interests amid the escalating rivalry between China and the United States.

"If South Korea, as the chairing nation, can effectively navigate and balance its relations with the U.S., Japan, and China, it may play a key role in preventing the further polarization of regional blocs around the Korean Peninsula," Min said.