Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto held a significant bilateral meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on the sidelines of the APEC 2025 Summit. During their discussions, President Prabowo extended his sincere appreciation to President Lee for the remarkably successful organization of this year’s APEC event.
Commending South Korea’s meticulous preparation and execution, President Prabowo stated,
“I want to congratulate you on your leadership at APEC. The event was organized exceptionally well, with great efficiency, and consistently on time, down to the minute.”
This sentiment was conveyed in a written statement from the Presidential Secretariat’s Press, Media, and Information Bureau on Saturday, November 1.
Beyond the summit’s operational success, President Prabowo also expressed his admiration for the splendid dinner hosted by the South Korean government. He took the opportunity to highlight the widespread influence of K-Pop culture, a topic frequently discussed and celebrated across Indonesia.
Reflecting on the evening’s festivities, Prabowo remarked,
“I want to thank you for the magnificent dinner last night. The event was truly engaging, and I believe Korea will conquer the world with your music and dance. All young Indonesians, they are absolutely crazy about K-Pop.”
This underscores the profound cultural connection between the two nations.
In response, President Lee expressed his profound gratitude to President Prabowo for his presence at the forum. He underscored the critical importance of sustained dialogue and robust cooperation, particularly given the current volatile and uncertain global security landscape.
Acknowledging the challenges, President Lee humbly requested,
“Currently, we live in an unstable security environment. Therefore, Mr. President, I would like to ask you to share some of your invaluable wisdom with me and the Republic of Korea.”
This gesture highlights the mutual respect and the desire for a strengthened strategic partnership between Indonesia and South Korea.
During their productive exchange, President Lee also conveyed his eager anticipation for President Prabowo’s upcoming state visit to the “ginseng country,” South Korea, a trip that had been previously postponed.
Reassuring Prabowo of the hospitality awaiting him, President Lee affirmed,
“I am confident that the Korean people will welcome you wholeheartedly.”
This invitation reinforces the strong diplomatic ties and potential for deeper collaboration.
President Prabowo was accompanied by a distinguished delegation of ministers from Indonesia’s Red and White Cabinet. These included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Foreign Minister Sugiono, Minister of Investment and Downstreaming Rosan Roeslani, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, signaling the comprehensive nature of the bilateral discussions.
Summary
During a bilateral meeting at the APEC 2025 Summit, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto congratulated South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on the event’s efficient organization and the splendid dinner. Prabowo also noted the widespread influence of K-Pop in Indonesia, stating that Indonesian youth are “absolutely crazy about K-Pop.”
President Lee thanked Prabowo for his presence and stressed the importance of dialogue and cooperation amid an unstable global security environment, requesting Prabowo’s wisdom. Lee also expressed anticipation for Prabowo’s upcoming state visit to South Korea, assuring him of a warm welcome.