APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Leaders’ Summit 2025 took place in Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 31 – November 1, 2025. It was one of the most important international gatherings of the year, bringing together heads of state, ministers, and business leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific economies, including the United States, China, Japan, Australia, South Korea and more. 

On October 29, 2025, Karoline Leavitt made an unscheduled visit to the Olive Young Hwangnam branch on Hwangnidan Street in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province.

Please click the link below to see what she purchased. 

Shop the collection here!

Later, she posted an Instagram story featuring the Korean skincare products she bought, captioned “South Korea skincare finds.” 

It’s rare for a top U.S. official to share a shopping haul while on a diplomatic trip. Her visit didn’t just spotlight her—it boosted K-beauty too. Foot traffic at Olive Young’s Gyeongju store jumped 77%, and foreign customer sales rose from 20% to 63%. The buzz came right as the APEC 2025 Summit was happening in Gyeongju, giving Korean skincare extra global shine.