Government Submits Application for 2030 Busan World Expo Hosting

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] Yoo Myung-hee, head of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy's '2030 Busan World Expo' bid planning team, visited the Secretariat of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) in Paris, France, and submitted the bid application for the Expo.

Our government is promoting the hosting of the World Expo under the theme "The Great Transformation of the World, Voyage Toward a Better Future," scheduled to be held from May 1 to October 31, 2030, in the Bukhang area of Busan Metropolitan City.

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that during a meeting between Head Yoo and BIE Secretary-General Dimitri Kerkentzes, they presented and shared a vision to create a sustainable and harmoniously coexisting future through hosting the Expo. The World Expo is regarded as one of the three major international events alongside the Olympics and the World Cup.

Mayor Park Hyung-joon of Busan and Ambassador Yoo Dae-jong to France accompanied the visit to the BIE Secretariat. The bid application includes the theme of the 2030 Busan World Expo, the event period, location, and the Korean government's intention to host.

An official from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy stated, "With the submission of this bid application, our government's official intention to host the World Expo has been expressed," adding, "We will closely cooperate with the business community and Busan City to complete the establishment of a private bid committee by July and will officially begin bid activities targeting 169 member countries."

Meanwhile, the BIE will accept bid applications until October 29 of this year, conduct on-site inspections next year, and select the host city through a member country vote in 2023.