The workshop was organized as part of a flagship project jointly led by the Korea National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (KOPEC)** and the Japan National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (JANCPEC), in support of Korea’s priority agenda as the 2025 APEC host economy: “Responding to Demographic Changes.”

Under the theme of “Addressing Labor Shortages Due to Low Birth Rates and Aging Population in the APEC Region,” the event brought together experts from across the region for in-depth discussions on demographic shifts and population aging―key challenges confronting the Asia-Pacific.

In his welcoming remarks, Hyunghwan Joo, Vice Chair of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, emphasized the significance of APEC’s historic decision to adopt “Responding to Demographic Changes” as a core agenda for the first time at the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Meeting in Gyeongju, and underscored the need for a coordinated response within APEC.

Hyuncheol Bryant Kim, Associate Professor at the Yonsei University College of Medicine, delivered the keynote speech, introducing a comprehensive “Big Push” strategy to tackle Korea’s ultra-low fertility problem. Professor Kim stressed that only a simultaneous and holistic approach―rather than fragmented, individual policies―could prevent demographic collapse.

The program was designed to explore key topics across two sessions. The first session focused on APEC’s aging population and strategies for economic growth. The second session addressed sustainable growth in the context of demographic shifts and labor market adaptation.

Distinguished speakers included Kensuke Yanagida (Research Fellow of Japan Institute of International Affairs), Yuan Xin (Professor of Nankai University, China), Nayoung Kim (Research Fellow of Korea Institute of Child Care and Education), Monica He (Head of Global Human Health, Organon, USA), Keiko Ito (Professor of Chiba University, Japan), Yasuhiro Kamimura (Associate Professor of Nagoya University, Japan), JinSung Yoo (Senior Research Fellow of Korea Economic Research Institute), and Yen-hsin Alice Cheng (Professor and Research Fellow of Institute of Sociology at Academia Sinica, Chinese Taipei). Participants shared their respective national experiences and policy cases while seeking concrete and practical solutions.

Through the event, KIEP provided a pivotal platform to advance comprehensive dialogues on pressing demographic challenges in the Asia-Pacific ahead of the 2025 APEC Leaders’ Meeting, while fostering stronger collaboration among academia, industry, and government. The recommendations generated during the workshop are expected to provide valuable input into the preparations for the upcoming APEC Leaders’ Meeting.

- Title: PECC Signature Project Workshop

- Topic: Addressing Labor Shortages Due to Low Birth Rates and Aging Population in the APEC Region

- Date & Time: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 14:00–17:20

- Venue: Emerald Room (3F), FKI Conference Center, Seoul

- Hosts: Korea National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (KOPEC), Japan National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation (JANCPEC)

- Organizers: Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), Federation of Korean Industries (FKI)

- Contact: Soyoung Kwak, Senior Researcher, KOPEC Secretariat (sykwak@kiep.go.kr)