Dulwich Students Perform at APEC Summit Gala in Gyeongju
Two of our Senior School students, Exuan Y (Year 8) and Laura P (Year 7), recently represented Dulwich College Seoul on the world stage as part of the APEC Project Choir performing at the 2025 APEC Summit Gala Dinner in Gyeongju.
The gala, held on Friday 31 October, was one of the most high-profile cultural events of the year, welcoming leaders and delegates from 21 member economies. Hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the evening celebrated the theme “Butterflies, Fly Together” — symbolising unity, peace, and connection across nations.
Performing alongside 22 other young singers from around the world in the international children’s choir, Exuan and Laura, performed Fly as One, a song of hope and harmony that brought the evening to a moving close. The performance was part of a spectacular cultural showcase that blended Korea’s ancient heritage and modern creativity — featuring the National Dance Company of Korea, violin prodigy Kim Yeon-ah, renowned choreographers Lee Leejung and Honey J, and K-pop icon G-Dragon, who performed as APEC’s official ambassador.
The children’s choir was a highlight of the evening, with audiences—including heads of state such as President Lee Jae-myung and President Xi Jinping—applauding as symbolic butterflies took flight on stage and across the LED screens, representing friendship and connection between nations.
Participation in this extraordinary event required several days of rehearsal under the direction of the APEC Cultural Programme team, culminating in a performance broadcast internationally as part of the official APEC Summit coverage.
Exuan’s Reflection:
"Being in the choir was an extraordinary experience for me. At first, I was nervous and stressed because I didn’t know anyone in the choir except for Laura (Year 7). The choral directors made us sing in front of everyone and recorded us, which made me very anxious. However, as time went on, I slowly got to know new people and realised they were actually very nice. e had six-hour rehearsals every weekend and even had rehearsals after school on some days, with longer ones as the performance day got closer. It was really tiring and difficult, but we kept going and tried our best each time. Unfortunately, we had to miss three days of school to go to Gyeongju for even more rehearsals. It was very strict there—we weren’t allowed to take photos at all. After the final performance, everyone was so proud. Some people even cried because it was our last time together as the event came to an end. We took lots of photos and exchanged phone numbers. The teachers also gave us fried chicken to celebrate our amazing performance. I’m so glad I kept trying and never gave up, even when it was hard. Overall, this was an unforgettable experience, and I will always treasure it!"
Ms Suzanne Pugh, Head of Senior School, said:
“We are incredibly proud of Exuan and Laura for representing Dulwich College Seoul and Korea at such a prestigious international event. Performing before world leaders at the 2025 APEC Summit is a remarkable honour and an unforgettable experience that beautifully reflects the confidence, cultural awareness, and global outlook our students develop through their Dulwich education”
Watch a clip of the performance: